Parks Department Considers Fee Increases for Youth Programs – Pasadena Now

Pasadena’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (PRCS) is considering gradually returning to pre-COVID fee structures for youth programs after having significantly reducing prices during the pandemic. The potential increases, which would affect youth sports, after-school programs, and summer day camps, could generate up to $600,000 in additional annual revenue for park maintenance and expanded services.

“We believe that some of the dollars generated from that can definitely help … with infrastructure improvements, help us developing maintenance programs such as the resurfacing programs and field renovation programs,” said Koko Panossian, Director of Pasadena’s Parks, Recreation & Community Services during a May 7 budget presentation to the Public Safety Committee.

The department revealed that current rates for Pasadena residents remain dramatically lower than before the pandemic.

Youth sports fees were dropped from $60 to $10, while after-school and summer day camp rates were similarly reduced to support community participation during and after COVID-19. The department served 14,273 program registrants in the past year, representing a 40% increase from the prior year, according to city statistics.

According to figures presented at the meeting, the department’s current revenue from these programs stands at approximately $477,000. However, if pre-COVID fees were still in place with the same participation numbers, revenue would be around $1.091 million — thus the difference of about $600,000.

Youth sports participation has actually increased since pre-COVID levels, with data showing 2,700 resident participants in 2019.

“So we’ll be coming back to council next year to lay out a plan to gradually start phasing us back,” Panossian explained. He added, “I will say with pride that our numbers currently we are one of the lowest, if not the lowest fees for programs with all of the comparable agencies within Southern California.”

Several councilmembers expressed concerns about the potential impact of fee increases on low-income families.

Councilmember Steve Madison said he concurs “with those that think it’s a shame if we’re going to start raising those for the working families, kids that really benefit from these programs, and to whom increases of 20, 30, 40, $50 is a lot.”

Councilmember Justin Jones highlighted that for many families, program fees represent only part of the cost. For soccer, families must also purchase uniforms ($45-55) and equipment like cleats, potentially bringing the total cost to $120-200 per child.

Councilmembers asked about ways to help families with these additional costs through partnerships with sporting goods stores and professional teams.

Department officials assured the committee that the Parks and Recreation Foundation’s scholarship program would continue to ensure accessibility.

Enrique Arroyo from the department said that in 2019, before the fee reduction, the department issued 237 scholarships amounting to about $6,000 for youth sports participants. The scholarship program allocates 5-10% of the previous year’s revenue as financial assistance.

“But I want to be clear, there’s no participants left behind,” Arroyo emphasized. “We’re completely committed to having every child, whether it be after school, some of our day camps, youth sports, we let them in and we’ll figure out the finances later.”

Officials said the department has waived over $1.1 million in fees to community nonprofit organizations in the past year.

The proposed fee adjustments were presented as part of the department’s proposed $29.8 million budget for fiscal year 2026, which represents a 9.7% increase from the current year’s $27 million budget. The increase covers contractual obligations, staff-related MOUs, and utility rate increases.

The department is also seeking a $700,000 enhancement request to replace aging equipment, including five mowers, two loaders, two tractors, and trailers. Most current equipment is more than 20 years old, department officials reported, which affects productivity and staff morale. Panossian illustrated this by describing how a new 14-foot mower could reduce mowing time from 13 hours to 6 hours for a 19-acre area at Brookside Park.

PRCS is also working toward sustainability goals by evaluating a transition to battery-powered equipment where feasible.

The department played a key role in the city’s response to the recent Eaton Fire, staffing the convention center shelter as a 24-hour operation for four days. Councilmembers praised staff who helped with evacuation efforts even as some of their own homes were threatened by the fire.

Other initiatives highlighted in the presentation included plans for enhanced fitness equipment in parks, improved shade structures at playgrounds like La Pintoresca Park, and partnerships with organizations like OBA and MASH for brush clearance to prevent future fires.

The department has restructured its programming, moving youth sports and adaptive recreation under Robinson Recreation Center’s management while shifting summer day camps to Villa Park. This restructuring aims to improve operational efficiency.

“We at PRCS are improving lives through safe parks programs and services,” Panossian said, introducing the department’s new motto.