WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- Watertown residents and visitors have a lot to look forward to when it comes to recreation, from a new ice arena to new future programming within the Parks and Recreation department. However, those new changes will come at a new price.
"In the past, the fees were never really what they should have been and we did a cost analysis on what it actually takes to run those fields and we really needed to start to charge people a little bit more," said Watertown Parks and Rec Superintendent Erin Gardner.
The department's new fees schedule was approved at this week's council meeting. Some of the updated fees cover future programs, such as soccer and basketball tournaments.
One big concern though was over an increase in the fee for using the main baseball and multipurpose fields. It went from $60 per game to $50 per hour.
“If they’re there for four hours and it’s a night game, you’re tripling, if not quadrupling, that cost," said Watertown City Councilmember Joseph Butler Jr.
However, Gardner says it's a necessary change to cover upkeeping costs.
"It's maintaining the fields, it's the clay, it's the mowing, it's the maintenance of the buildings, it's the maintenance of the batting cages and the bullpen, everything that goes along with the main field," she said.
Gardner says she doesn't want to keep people to taking advantage of the facilities offered, but says the department needs to be fiscally responsible.
She also says that with the increased fees, the department will come closer to covering maintenance costs, but still won't fully break even.