Batavia cuts prices for park programs

A "Recession Relief" program of free and reduce-price programs for the Batavia Park District appears to have been successful in increasing participation.

This summer, the district sliced prices on 15 programs, most of them for children and youths. The price of a cross-country running program was cut by more than half, from $85 to $40, the largest discount. Others charging less included a cheerleading program, dance classes, karate, tennis lessons, tumbling instruction, gymnastics and a cooking class. It also discounted the daily admission rate to Harold Hall Quarry Beach on Wednesdays.

Head counts more than doubled for the programs, from 1,887 to 4,081.

The increased enrollment almost made up for the reduced prices: Revenue was $28,018, down only $335 from a year ago.

"It gives us more exposure," said Jeff Clark, the district's leisure services director. "We were trying to increase the number of people."

Park board commissioner Chris Behmer this week asked what conclusions the board could draw from the experience, cautioning it may not be tied to the recession.

"It could be that it is now the right price for that program," he said. "We could have been priced too high. How does it apply to other programs?"

"We can't just say, 'Lowering the price did it,' " said Commissioner John Tilmon, suggesting the staff survey participants to find out what made them sign up for a particular program, such as changes in availability or instructors.