Chicago Park District's proposed 2025 budget includes some fee increases

The Chicago Park District is seeking to raise some of its fees next year to cover rising operating expenses and avoid raising its property tax levy.

The park district said the updated fees would remain below pre-pandemic levels.

The fee changes in the Park District's proposed 2025 budget include a "modest" increase to the summer day camp fee, a 2% increase in harbor fees and a parking rate increase of $2, according to a news release.

Golf course "green fees" would go up by $1 at three of the busiest locations: Sydney Marovitz, Jackson Park and Robert Black golf courses. Fees would not change at the Columbus, Marquette and South Shore golfing facilities, and the Marquette and Jackson driving ranges.

The park district — in its 275-page, $598.5 million operating budget released Wednesday — said it reduced fees during the pandemic to give residents a break and respond to dropping demand. Now, with demand rising, it is looking to raise fees to cover rising costs.

Those higher fees will keep the Park District from raising its property tax levy. The levy remains unchanged in next year's budget, though the district is receiving $5.3 million more in property taxes through the expiration of tax increment financing districts, according to the budget.

The 2% harbor fee increase would generate an anticipated $740,000 in revenue, according to the park district. The $2 parking rate increase would bring in an additional $1.3 million annually. A 5% increase for all permitted park events, including large events not currently under contract, would bring in $1.7 million in more revenue.

The park district did not specify what the new summer day camp fees would be. In 2023, summer day camp costs ranged from $200 to $300 per child. A park district spokesperson did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment.

Chicago Park District CEO Rosa Escareño, in Wednesday’s budget presentation before the park district's board of commissioners, said the proposed fee increase for day camps is based on the income levels of the neighborhoods they are in.

"When we were looking at where we would make those adjustments, we were looking at communities that have the greatest need," Escareño said. "We inched up a little more on those fees. But we're inching maybe a little bit further in communities where those income levels may be higher, where our communities can maybe afford that."

This year, around 20,000 kids enrolled in summer day camps, Escareño said.

In its budget, the park district said its revenue should maintain a "positive trend due primarily" to the long-term agreement with Lollapalooza in Grant Park.

The music festival signed a 10-year contract with the city in 2022. The agreement calls for the park district to receive 5% to 20% of revenue, depending on how much the festival makes. The park district generated $9.6 million in fees from the festival in 2023.

The park district board of commissioners is expected to vote on the proposed budget Dec. 11.