Spokane County pool fees to rise in summer 2015
Those seeking relief from the heat at Spokane County pools next summer will have to reach a little deeper into their wallets.
As costs for labor and supplies continue to rise at the county’s swimming attractions, commissioners this week approved the first rate hike for individual admission since 2009. Admission at the county’s two aquatics centers next summer will cost $2.50 for children ages 3 to 5 and $5 for adults, up from $2 and $4 last year. Those 60 and older will be charged $4, up from $3 last year.
“We think that’s very reasonable,” said Spokane County Parks and Recreation Director Doug Chase. “The facilities will still be subsidized, no question about that.”
The increased rates are still less than the county charged in 2010 and 2011, when individual admissions cost $3 for children and $6 for adults. Prices were slashed in 2012 to compete with Spokane city pools’ lower rates.
While individual entry will cost more, renting the aquatics centers for large gatherings will cost considerably less, according to the new fee schedule adopted by county commissioners Tuesday. Reserving either pool for special events on select Saturdays and Sundays this summer will cost between 10 percent and 25 percent less, based upon the number of people who plan to attend.
The price drops are designed to make renting the county’s two pools more attractive, Chase said. Last summer, only two large events were booked there.
“We looked really closely at those,” he said of the rentals. “We felt we could reduce those a little bit and still be able to cover a substantial portion of the costs.”
People wishing to serve beer, wine or champagne at events on county-owned parkland will also see a reduction in fees. The cost of obtaining an alcohol permit will fall to $75 next year from $200, but the renters will need to obtain a special events permit or rent out an entire facility 14 days before the event. Other types of alcohol are prohibited.
Revenue at the county’s two pools and beachfront park at Liberty Lake soared last summer, in part because of new cabin rentals available at the lake. For $45, up to four people can spend a night at the cabins that are situated between the beach and campground at Liberty Lake Regional Park next summer. Reservations can be made online or by calling the county Parks Department at (509) 477-4730.
Entry fees at Liberty Lake Regional Park will remain the same, $2 per person.
In spite of higher ticket sales, the county’s pools continue to operate based on a subsidy that covered 38 percent of the costs last year. Parks staff say the rate hikes are necessary to cover the increased cost of labor to staff the pools and food, chemicals and other items.