North Andover Select Board To Vote On Stevens Pond Fees

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Stevens Pond will open for its 22nd season, and a proposal calls for fees to use the pond to increase in the coming years.

The increase in fees is on the Select Board agenda for Tuesday night's meeting.

In April 2021, North Andover Youth & Recreation Services provided a five-year plan to increase fees.

Seasonal fees are slated to increase from $79 in 2023 to $81 this year. Fees will increase again to $83 in in 2025 and to $85 in 2026.

Last year, the pond saw a decrease in revenues, dropping from $31,238 in 2022 to $27,229 in 2023. The proposal notes that there was a reduction in permit passes in 2023 "due to having multiple closures in 2022."

"We are ecstatic that we did not have one water quality closure in 2023 and we are extremely optimistic that revenue will be up in 2024," according to the proposal.

The pond had "minor blue-green algae issues" in 2023 which were treated promptly. The pond remained opened all last summer, and the town is "optimistic that we will once again be open the full nine weeks in 2024."

Current staffing at the pond includes a director, nine lifeguards, and six parking lot attendants. Wages were increased to "an appropriate hourly wage" for gate attendants and lifeguards in 2023.

The pond will be open June 20 to Aug. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.