Falls Parks and Recreation Board Taking Second Look at Natatorium Rate Structure

This week could mark the last chapter in the long and winding Natatorium controversy as the Parks and Recreation Board will take another look at whether or not to alter the gym’s rate structure.  

“I intend to make this a discussion item at the meeting and will open it back up and see what the will of the park board is,” said board chairman Tim Gorbach. 

, the parks board voted 3-2 against a motion raised by Gorbach, which would have ultimately created a head of household rate structure.

Under that structure, rates would rise or fall depending on the number of people who reside in any given Cuyahoga Falls residence.

The head of household would eliminate what some call a discriminatory discount plan, otherwise known as the “w/spouse” plan. Under the membership, only heterosexual married couples can receive the $255 discount versus individual members who pay more.

The issue, , has remained a hot topic among Patch readers.

Why the second look by the parks board?

After council members Terry Mader, Carrie Snyder and Diana Colavecchio met in regarding the rate structure issue, they decided to take no action and leave the decision up to the Parks and Recreation Board for now. 

In the work sessions, the members conferred with the city’s parks and recreation superintendent Bill Lohan who advised a new rate structure couldn’t be “superimposed” over the existing one.

A household structure could replace the current system, but the upheaval could create revenue losses, he said.

Lohan said he created a conceptual model to get an idea of the dip in revenue, and he received a “ball park” figure of $49,000 in losses.

He arrived at the number through one static scenario, but added that multiple scenarios could be run to see if there was a financially practical household structure.

He said the $49,000 represents a minimum loss and running further models would most likely show even greater losses in revenue.

In light of the information Lohan gave to council members, Colavecchio recommended the parks board reconvene, “do its own due diligence” and make a determination on changing up the discounted rates.

Now onto Thursday, how do you think the Parks and Recreation Board should rule on this contentious issue?