Knox Park Board Gives OK for $5 Fee

The Knox Park Board has given the go-ahead for park officials to begin charging $5 per child to use the park’s fields for scheduled games or practices, once per season. The Knox City Council had previously discussed options to increase revenue for the park department, and Ray Stephenson with the park board told the council that they are considering charging a fee for children to use the fields for practices or games, and said a $5 charge per child would go a long way in funding some of the park’s maintenance.

In addition, Stephenson said the profits from the concession stand at the park have dropped and they are trying to find ways to bring that back up, such as charging a flat fee to rent the concession stand monthly. Mayor Rick Chambers mentioned the idea of having the concession stand open on a regular basis.

Stephenson said the concession stand currently charges 15 percent of the income generated, but umpire fees are taken out before they get their cut and the profits have been dropping steadily. He said he would like to charge $400 per month for people renting it to ensure a steady cash flow, but no decision was made.

After a lengthy discussion regarding the proposed fee, the park board passed a motion approving the new charge. The $5 fee will apply to anyone who wishes to use the field on a regularly scheduled basis and will go directly toward park maintenance.