Arlington Heights parks hiking fees for swimming, some programs

Fees for some Arlington Heights Park District recreation and programs will increase up to 3 percent starting May 1, Jim Glueckert, director of recreation and facilities, said Friday.

“This year, in light of the economy, we really tried to hold fees unless expenses went up,” he said. “The average increase is closer to 1.5 to 2 percent across the board; many programs have no fee increase.”

Some hikes were needed, however, to offset rising utility and staffing costs, he said. The park board approved the new fee schedule Tuesday.

Some of the increases include:

• Two-week day camp, 10 days from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will increase $5, from $273 to $278.

• Family year-round swimming passes will rise $6, from $211 to $217; summer swim passes for a family will increase $5, from $183 to $188. The cost of swim passes had not risen in the last two years, Glueckert said.

• Sessions of swimming lessons, typically eight classes, will rise $1, from $65 to $66.

• Fees will remain the same for golf, dance classes and tennis club memberships.

Charges for nonresidents will rise at about the same percentages.

Glueckert said 70 percent of the district's recreation department budget is supported by fees, and the remainder by taxes.