Council Approves Golf Course, Recreation Center, Park Fee Increases

Certain usage fees will be increasing at the Casper Municipal Golf Course, the Casper Recreation Center and at certain city-owned parks, athletic fields and tennis courts.

Casper City Council narrowly approved the series of increases at its regular meeting Tuesday night. Mayor Kenyne Schlager says the Casper Leisure Services Advisory Board endorsed each increase.

“We have a board that studies these issues and makes recommendations to council,” Schlager said. “They take in a number of considerations, such as what other facilities are charging, how they can keep their financial strength, and those situations.”

Schlager voted against each proposed increase. She says the city already charges too much at many of its recreational facilities.

“The fees have gone up every year I’ve been on council,” Schlager said. “It’s expensive now to the point that I won’t buy a pass myself, so I think there’s some value in keeping prices low and affordable for the entire community.”

Nine-hole greens fees at the Casper Municipal Golf Course will increase $2 to $18 on weekdays and $4 to $20 on weekends. 18-hole greens fees will increase $4 to $30 on weekdays and $6 to $32 on weekends.

At the Casper Recreation Center, drop-in registration fees will increase from $5 per day to $6 per day. Punch pass fees will increase from $4.50 per punch to $5.50 per punch.

Rental fees at city-owned parks, athletic fields and tennis courts will increase from $40 per day to $50 per day. The refundable damage deposit will also increase from $75 to $150.

The increases are scheduled to take effect this month.