Fayetteville increasing fees for youth sports, camps and pool admission

The Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Department will update its fee schedule for the first time in more than a decade, impacting various programs and services such as summer camps, after-school programs and youth sports.

In the 2024 fiscal year, which began July 1, 2023, and ended June 30, 2024, Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation had 20,448 participate in recreational programs and 12,499 in athletic programs, according to a news release. Before making the fee change, the city of Fayetteville had a study done comparing its rates to Asheville, Cary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, Durham, Greensboro, High Point, Raleigh, Rocky Mount and Wake Forest, the release said. The analysis showed that Fayetteville's fees were among the lowest, with many rates unchanged since 2013.

"The additional revenue will be used to ensure we maintain exceptional service for our parks and recreation programs," Loren Bymer, spokesperson for the city, said by email Sunday.

Bymer said the rate increase was necessary to help cover the costs of maintaining services provided to those using these facilities.

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation fees

Starting Sept. 1, the new fee structure will see increases across the following:

Youth athletics :

• Resident fee increases from $25 to $40
• Nonresident fee increases from $50 to $80

Youth football :

• Resident fee increases from $30 to $45
• Nonresident fee increases from $60 to $90

After-school program :

• Resident fee increases from $115 to $140 per month
• Nonresident fee increases from $230 to $280 per month

Summer day camp :

• Resident fee increases from $65 to $90 per week
• Nonresident fee increases from $130 to $180 per week

Beginning summer 2025, pool entry fees for residents will increase from $2 for adults and $1 for children to $4 for adults and $3 for children, the release said. Nonresident pool entry fees will double from its current fee of $2 for children 12 and under, and $4 for anyone 13 or older. Since June, FCPR's pools have documented a record 46,000 visits. The pools close Sept. 2, the release said.

"We are happy that rates have been able to remain at such a low level over the past decade for parks and recreation activities," Bymer said. "The income of our residents is always a consideration when City leadership consider any tax or rate increase."

Reporter Lizmary Evans covers growth and development for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at LEvans@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville increasing fees for youth sports, camps and pool admission