Over the past year and a half, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department has experienced significant budget cuts while the cost of maintaining the parks and ensuring public safety has continued to rise. In order to absorb these costs, the Department has reduced staff, developed partnerships with private and public agencies, applied for grant funding and actively pursued and implemented revenue generating opportunities (sponsorships, paid advertising, concessionaires, etc.).
Unfortunately, these efforts have not been enough. In an attempt to fill a portion of the budget gap and to continue to provide quality customer service while protecting the natural resources that have been entrusted to our care, the Department, along with the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Commission, is recommending an adjustment to the current fee schedule. We realize that county residents turn to their local parks during tough economic times and have made every effort to ensure that the suggested increases are comparable with agencies that offer similar services and/or park systems.
Currently, only 10% of the Departments total operational budget is derived from the county's general fund, aka property tax dollars and shared state sales tax. The remainder of the budget is based on profitable concession agreements, cooperative agreements with cities and towns, user and entrance fees (i.e. day-use fees, camping fees, annual passes, ramada rentals, etc.). In addition, county parks are operated with a skeletal staff, largely boosted by a host of volunteers who come during the winter months and perform fee collection and light maintenance duties. I believe the proposed fees are extremely reasonable given that a family can picnic for a day, barbeque, hike, attend an educational program by an interpretive ranger, enjoy clean restroom facilities and playgrounds and visit a nature center for six dollars.
If you would like to provide feedback and/or suggestions regarding the proposed increases, you may do so by clicking here. Thank you and we hope you will continue to support the county's park system.
R.J. Cardin, Director
| Park Entry Fee - Day Use back to top |
Current Fees |
Proposed Fees |
Changes |
Desert park per motorized vehicle entry |
$ 6.00 per motorized vehicle entry* |
|
No change |
| Lake Pleasant per motorized vehicle entry |
$ 5.00 |
$ 6.00 |
$ 1.00 increase |
| Per pedestrian, bicycle or horse |
$ 1.00 all other entry* |
$ 2.00 |
$ 1.00 increase |
| Annual Pass |
$75.00 |
|
No change |
Senior Discount
|
New |
$10.00 |
New discounted fee |
Additional card for household member
|
New |
$10.00 |
New service |
| Per school bus |
$10.00 |
|
No change |
| Per commercial bus |
$30.00 |
$45.00 |
$15.00 increase |
| Conservation Area per person |
$ 3.00 |
|
No change |
Children 15-years and under
|
NEW |
Free |
New |
| Archery (Usery Mountain Regional Park) |
$ 6.00 per vehicle |
|
No change |
Archery suppply fee (per archer)
|
New |
$ 2.00 |
New |
Supply fee for Annual Pass
|
New |
$40.00 |
New |
| NOTES: *The park entry fee at all parks is for day-use only and no longer valid for overnight camping. |
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| Watercraft - Lake Pleasant |
|
|
|
| Per motorized watercraft |
$ 2.00 |
$ 4.00 |
$ 2.00 increase |
| Watercraft Non-Motorized |
$ 2.00 |
|
No change |
| Annual Pass without watercraft |
$120.00 |
$140.00 |
$20.00 increase |
| Annual Pass with 1 watercraft 4-day |
$100.00 |
$125.00 |
$25.00 increase |
| Annual Pass with 1 watercraft 7-day |
$160.00 |
$200.00 |
$40.00 increase |
| Each additional watercraft 4-day |
$ 20.00 |
$ 25.00 |
$ 5.00 increase |
| Each additional watercraft 7-day |
$ 40.00 |
$ 50.00 |
$10.00 increase |
Additional card for household member
|
NEW |
$ 10.00 |
New |
|
| Camping Fee (Tent and RV) back to top |
|
|
|
Developed Campsites
• electrical/water hookups, dump station, restrooms, picnic
tables,
and grills |
$20.00 per night |
$25.00 |
$5.00 increase |
Semi-Developed Campsites
• restrooms, picnic tables, and grills - avail. at White Tank and
Lake
Pleasant only |
$15.00 per night |
$17.00 |
$2.00 increase |
Primitive Camping
• Shoreline at Lake Pleasant and turf at Estrella Mountain |
$10.00 per night |
|
No change |
| Shaded RV Host Site (when available) |
$30.00 per night |
$35.00 |
$5.00 increase |
NOTES:
• All camp sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and camping is limited to 14-consecutive days.
• Camping fee is a per-night rate (entry fee is waived for campers).
• Non-refundable and must be paid in advance. |
| |
| Group Camping Fee - back to top |
| Reservation fee, non-refundable |
$30.00 |
$35.00 |
$5.00 increase |
Group campsites per unit
- Includes park entry, restrooms, ramadas, grills, fire pits, and
dry
camping.
- Available at McDowell Mtn.; Cave Creek; Usery Horse Staging Area;
White Tank or Lake Pleasant.
- 5 unit min. for desert parks
- 10 unit min. for Lake Pleasant
|
$12.00 |
$15.00 |
$3.00 increase |
Youth campsite
• Available at McDowell Mtn., Usery, White Tank and Estrella
Mountain |
$30.00 |
$35.00 |
$5.00 increase |
| Youth Camp per person |
$ 2.00 |
$ 3.00 |
$1.00 increase |
| |
| Facility Reservations Fees - back to top |
| Group Picnic Ramadas |
No increase to fees for a 4-hour reservation. New fees will be applied as follows: |
| 2 Tables 4-hour reservation |
$ 20.00 |
|
$5.00 each additional hour |
| 4 Tables 4-hour reservation |
$ 30.00 |
|
$8.00 each additional hour |
| 6 Tables 4-hour reservation |
$ 40.00 |
|
$10.00 each additional hour |
| 8-10 Tables 4-hour reservation |
$ 60.00 |
|
$15.00 each additional hour |
| 12-16 Tables 4-hour reservation |
$ 80.00 |
|
$20.00 each additional hour |
Estrella Ballfield
• With lights |
$ 10.00 per hour
$ 5.00 per hour |
|
No change |
| Estrella Arena (full day) |
$ 50.00 |
$150.00 |
$100.00 increase |
Amphitheater Reservation (2-hour)
• With lights |
$ 25.00
$ 5.00 per hour |
$ 50.00
|
$25.00 increase
• No change |
| Competitive Track (full day) |
$100.00 |
$150.00 |
$50.00 increase |
| Outreach Programs |
$ 40.00 |
|
No change |
| Fee-based programming/special interest classes |
As determined by Dept. |
|
No change |
NOTES:
• All charges are for reservation only and do not include the entry fee.
• Non-refundable and must be paid in advance. |
| |
| Other Fees back to top |
| Special Use Permit Application Fee |
$50.00 |
$75.00 |
$25.00 increase |
| Collection Service Fee |
$ 5.00 |
$10.00 |
$ 5.00 increase |
| NSF Returned Check Fee |
New |
$25.00 |
New |
| Coupon Books/Discounts/Incentives |
Department may offer seasonal discounts, coupons and promotional incentives. |
NOTES:
• Rates above do not include the park entry fee.
• The park may impose a Park Impact and/or other fee(s) determined by event. |
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