Tucson Parks, Pool Fees Could Increase: Here’s What May Cost More

TUCSON, AZ — Tucson residents who use city parks, pools and recreation programs could soon be paying more.

The City of Tucson has launched a formal review process for proposed Parks and Recreation rate and fee changes, following a vote at the Mayor and Council meeting earlier this month.

If approved, the new fees would take effect next year.

The city said the push for higher fees stems from an internal cost-of-service analysis that found many current fees fall short of covering the actual cost of running programs and maintaining facilities.

The proposed changes are meant to narrow that gap, support ongoing upkeep and add fees for newly offered services. Some fees would increase gradually over multiple years rather than all at once.

Here's a look at some of the proposed changes:

Youth Programs: KIDCO Summer Camp would jump from $31.25 to $50 per week, with planned increases each year through 2029. School's Out Camp would double from $5 to $10 per day, and KIDCO Afterschool would increase from $50 to $67.50 per month.

Aquatics: Learn to Swim classes would go from $15 to $25 for eight sessions. A new $30 monthly lap swim and therapy pool pass would be introduced. Private swim lessons, currently free, would be priced at $160 for eight sessions.

Sports: Youth sport teams currently pay nothing to use city fields. That would change to $100 per team per season. Tournament fees would increase from $155 to $180 for profit organizations. Udall Park's pickleball courts would move to a managed reservation model.

Golf: A new $2 per round capital fee would be added on top of existing golf fees.

Nonresidents would feel the increases more sharply. The city is also proposing to raise its nonresident surcharge from 25 percent to 50 percent above the resident rate, though that change would require a separate city code update and additional approval from the Mayor and Council.

The proposal includes a revamped discount program for lower-income residents, replacing the current flat 50 percent discount with a tiered structure tied to federal poverty levels, ranging from an 80 percent discount at 100 percent of the federal poverty level down to 20 percent at 200 percent.

Residents still have a few chances to weigh in before anything is finalized. One community meeting remains on the schedule, along with a virtual option:

• Tuesday, April 29, time TBD — check the city's website for details
• Virtual comments can be submitted through the city's online portal through May 17

A public hearing before the Mayor and City Council is scheduled for June 9, when the fee schedule could be formally adopted. If approved, the new rates would take effect July 1, 2026.