Dayton Parks Floats Pool Fee Hike, Again

DAYTON - The City of Dayton's Board of Parks Commissioners Monday night floated the idea of raising entry fees for the city's popular swimming pool by a third, an initiative that failed last year.

Concerned about the cost of maintenance, wages and repairs, Parks Board Chair Christine Broughton asked the Dayton City Council to consider raising general admission to $2 from the current $1.50, while the season's pass would go up to $62 from $50 for individuals and to $100 from $85 for a family of up to five. Those hikes would represent a 33 percent boost.

"The increase looks huge, but it's really not that big," Broughton, who is also a council member, told her fellow council members.

Pool passes have not been raised in six years and the facility is heavily subsidized by the city.

Following a technical report on the condition of the pool and its systems last year, the city launched a $90,000 program to make improvements to the heating system, concrete apron, pump, flow meters, solar panels, filters, bathrooms and other items at the aging facility needing attention.

On Monday night, the council approved $2,104.05 for tile removal and replacement, and $4,032.48 to replace the boiler that heats the pool water on colder days.

But Mayor Pro-tem Merle Jackson, who presided over the regular council meeting in the absence of Mayor Craig George, was immediately reserved about the proposal of raising admissions, something that's not expected to offset operational or maintenance costs significantly.

"I have mixed emotions about that," he said during the meeting. "The pool is a part of the city that will never become self-sustaining. I really don't want to shut out people, which a fee increase might do."

Jackson said he would worry about what kids whose families can't afford pool admission would do instead during their summer days when school is out and there are few other activities for them.

"If we shut them out, they're going to dissipate their energy somewhere else," he predicted, saying he would prefer to raise the issue with the mayor after George returns.

Under the Parks Board's proposal, which is the same as last year's, other fees would also rise. A swim team pass would go up from $20 to $25, an aquacise pass from $50 to $62, and group lessons from $30 to $35 per student.

Councilman Terry Herrin suggested raising the daily admissions fee, but reducing the rates for season and family passes, based on the assumption that such a move would help regular local swimmers and offset the cost by passing it on to visitors.

"It's a good one to think about," Jackson said.