Politics & Government

Moorestown Plans to Charge Fee for Rec Center Use

The township plans to impose a $10 annual fee starting in 2015.

Moorestown plans to levy a $10 fee for the use of the Church Street Recreation Center beginning in 2015 to offset the cost of operating the recently improved facility, as well as improve security.

Township manager Scott Carew said while the programs offered at the center—dance classes, youth basketball, tennis lessons—have registration fees, the use of the facility for open gym basketball games (held several nights a week) is free.

Carew said township officials crunched the numbers and estimated that operating and manning the center for those free programs costs the township around $30,000 a year.

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By imposing a $10 annual membership fee for use of the center—children 18 and under will be exempt (special needs families are already exempt)—the township hopes to accomplish two things, he explained: one, offset some of the cost of operating the center; and two, provide adequate supervision during night basketball games.

According to Carew, the rec center has had problems lately with players getting into fights. At its worst, Carew said, the dust-ups were happening “almost every night”—to the point where the police had to be called on more than one occasion.

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By providing proper supervision, the township hopes to curb some of that activity, he said, as well as have the ability to ban members who violate the rules by revoking/suspending their membership cards. 

The original plan was to impose the fee beginning next year, but after further discussion among Carew, Parks and Recreation director Theresa Miller and others, it was decided to delay the fee until 2015.

Resident Pat White implored council—which won’t vote on the fee until its next regular meeting on Dec. 16—to reconsider Monday night.

“We pay not an insignificant amount in our taxes. One of the things we expect to be free are our recreational facilities,” she said. “The poor in Moorestown aren’t visible, but they’re here. Even a $10 fee—you get nickel and dimed to death for everything you do.”

White said she called neighboring communities to see whether they imposed membership fees for their recreation facilities and discovered—among the municipalities she contacted—none did.

However, Carew questioned whether any nearby towns provide facilities on par with Moorestown’s rec center.

“Our recreation center is a unique facility amongst surrounding towns,” he said. “It’s going to cost us to maintain these wonderful investments, not just now, but for 10 years, 15 years.”

Additionally, architect Rick Ragan reported that the rec center improvements—which included the installation of a new gym floor, new bathrooms, and offices—were complete, “on time, and on budget.” 

A grand opening for the newly improved center will be held Dec. 7, following the Moorestown Lions Club Christmas Parade. However, the recreation center will not officially open to the public until January.

Should the township charge a membership fee for the use of the rec center? Tell us what you think in the comments below.


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