Post Falls Council Increases Park Fees

An increase in park fees paid by businesses and nonresidents was made official Tuesday night.

City Council members approved the fee increases after a public hearing at their meeting. The new fees actually began Jan. 19, after Parks and Recreation Director Bill Musson proposed the increases to the council.

The revision adds new categories for business and nonresidential reservation fees. It also allows the city and school district to use the parks free of charge. Reservation fees for Post Falls residents will remain the same.

Fees vary according to the area and time of week at Q’emiln Riverside Park, Falls Park, White Pine Park and Corbin Park. For example, during the weekend at Corbin Park, a nonresident’s reservation costs $75 - $25 more than what a Post Falls resident must pay.

Also, businesses are required to pay more than nonprofit operations for a reservation.

According to Musson, nonresidents make up an average of 70 percent of reservations for park facilities in Post Falls. In 1998, nonresident groups made 64 of 84 total reservations.

Nonresidents made 54 of 80 reservations in 1999.

“We want to put a little more preference to the taxpayers who support the park system,” Musson said.

Businesses and nonresidents have continued to make reservations - despite the changes - since the new fees began last month.

The city expects to gain $15,000 from the fee increases, Musson said.