Reimagine Recreation and Parks

Fee Schedule

Following community feedback, including input from the Board of Recreation and Parks and other recreation council stakeholders, the Department has released the FY2025 fee schedule. 

This newly revised structure will modernize current Department fees bringing them in line with benchmarked jurisdictions. Additionally, this represents the first time that the Department has endeavored to publish fees to the public creating better transparency. Fees range from pavilion and facility rentals to modest program fees for youth and adult recreation users. 

Beginning July 1, 2024: 
External Non-Profit and For-Profit Groups or Organizations that operate separately from Certified Recreation Councils will be charged fees according to the FY2025 fee schedule. 

Beginning January 1, 2025:
There will continue to be no charges for Certified Recreation Council In-House Youth Programs. However, to support field and facility maintenance, funding for all field equipment (including chalk, goals, nets, etc.), and ensuring quality customer service with appropriate field and facility staffing, the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks will collect the following fees:

• Recreation Council In-House Youth Programs: No charges for participants.
• Recreation Council Travel/Club Youth Programs: $10 per participant per season.
• Recreation Council Adult Programs: $25 per participant per season. 

Please note: The current $20 per hour staffing and facility fee for adult and out of season programs, will continue to be collected where appropriate, until January 1, 2025. These fees will be eliminated effective, January 1, 2025.

Program Definitions

Program definitions were developed in consultation with the stakeholder group and the Board of Recreation and Parks.

“Certified Recreation Council” means a 501c3 non-profit organization recognized by the Baltimore County Board of Recreation and Parks as meeting their criteria established by the Board as part of the bi-annual certification process. Additionally, to be certified Recreation Councils will need to have a signed approved Memorandum of Understating (MOU) with the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks. 

“Recognition” means the process established within the By-Laws of the Baltimore County Board of Recreation and Parks to approved Recreation Councils and the MOU process by the Department of Recreation and Parks.

“Recreation program” means a program recognized by a certified recreation council as operating: 

1. solely as a seasonal and/or full year program of a single certified council; and
2. with all funds collected and disbursed by the program controlled and governed by the certified recreation council’s adopted By-Laws, policies, or procedures; and
3. with all registrants having an opportunity to participate in the program regardless of skill level; and 
4. with the program leadership actively involved in the affairs of the council, as defined by the By-Laws, policies, or procedures of the council.

“Recreation Programs” include, but are not limited to:

1. In-house leagues operated by one single Council;
2. Interscholastic middle school sports teams or programs;
3. Inter-council sports teams or programs wherein any single council has an insufficient number of registrants to provide a viable intra-council program;
4. Clinic instructional short-term programs (Learn to play style programs etc.)

“Recreation Council Travel/Club Program” means a program:

1. that does not offer guaranteed participation regardless of skill level within the program; and
2. can operate as a seasonal and/or full year program of a single certified council; and
3. with all funds collected and disbursed by the program controlled and governed by the certified recreation council’s adopted By-Laws, policies, or procedures; and 
4. with the program leadership actively involved in the affairs of the council, as defined by the By-Laws, policies, or procedures of the council; and
5. program costs are affordable as determined by the Department; and
6. coaches/administrators are mostly volunteers and/or participation is mainly comprised of local/surrounding area participants.

In the event above criteria are not met, the Department reserves the right to charge appropriate fees for facility access in line with an Outside Club/Travel Program.  

“Outside Club/Travel Program” means a program:

1. that does not offer guaranteed participation regardless of skill level within the program; and
2. that itself or its parent/affiliate organization has a non-profit, not for profit, for profit or corporate status separate from a certified recreation council; or, that deposits any revenue in a financial institution or makes disbursements from said account which is not under the control of a recreation council or the federal TIN on the account is assigned to an entity different from the recreation council; and
3. program costs are unaffordable as determined by the Department; and
4. coaches/administrators are not mostly volunteers and/or participation is mainly comprised of local/surrounding area participants. 

Revised Permit Process and Priority Access Policy Announced

Following robust feedback from Recreation Councils, Nature Councils, and the public, the Department is announcing plans to maintain the current Permit Process and Priority Access Policy.

Order of Priority:  
1.    Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks Programs
2.    Certified Recreation Councils 
       a.    Youth Recreation/In-House level Programs from Local Recreation Council 
       b.    Youth Travel/Club Programs from Local Recreation Council 
       c.    Adult Programs from Local Recreation Council 
       d.    Youth Recreation/In-House level Programs from other Recreation Council 
       e.    Youth Travel/Club Programs from other Recreation Council 
       f.    Adult Programs from other Recreation Council 
3.    BCPS Programs
4.    Outside Non-Profit Organizations or Groups
       a.    Youth Programs
       b.    Adult Programs
5.    For-Profit Organizations or Groups
       a.    Youth Programs
       b.    Adult Programs

In addition, the Department’s prior seasons of play policy will be reinstated for the Recreation Council Programs.

Grant Opportunities

Additionally, in an effort to strengthen the partnership between the Department and recreation and nature councils that offer sports and community-based programming, the County will soon offer grant funding available to support capacity building and will also make available technical assistance and other trainings for recreation and nature councils through the Maryland Association of Non-Profit Organizations (MANO). Application details, including eligibility requirements, will be available in July. 

End of Group Leadership Program

As has been previously communicated, beginning July 1, 2024 the group leadership program will begin phasing out. It is expected that Recreation and Nature Councils will be responsible for directly hiring Council employees and meet all necessary legal requirements. The Department will continue to work with each Council on providing appropriate guidance on next steps related to their specific concerns, and as indicated above will provide grant funding to support capacity building for councils. Councils requiring assistance to accomplish this change will be addressed individually, with the goal being no loss in program operations.

To ensure all councils are prepared for this transition, the Department will be hosting webinars for councils by region in the month of July to answer questions and to assist with this transition. 

The below guide answers frequently asked questions that have been shared with the Department. We will continue to do all we can to ensure residents remain informed, engaged and involved throughout this process. Priority frequently asked questions will be updated regularly.

Last updated in June 2024.

Q: What is a Recreation or Nature Council?
A: Recreation and Nature Councils are 501c3 non-profit volunteer organizations that are certified by the Board of Recreation and Parks but operate independently of Baltimore County government and the Department of Recreation and Parks.

Q: Are Recreation and Nature Councils part of Baltimore County Recreation and Parks Department?
A: No. Recreation and Nature Councils are separate entities outside of Baltimore County Recreation and Parks Department.

Q: Who Manages Recreation and Nature Councils?
A: Currently, Recreation and Nature Councils are run by volunteers and fall under the guidance of the Board of Recreation and Parks. The Board of Recreation and Parks is comprised of appointed volunteers who serve as an advisory group to the Department of Recreation and Parks. There are no formal legal agreements between the Department and Councils.

Q: Is Baltimore County changing rec program and facility availability? 
A: Following robust feedback from Recreation Councils, Nature Councils, and the public, the Department is announcing plans to maintain the current Permit Process and Priority Access Policy.

Please see the following as a reminder:

Order of Priority

1.    Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks Programs
2.    Certified Recreation Councils 
       a.    Youth Recreation/In-House level Programs from Local Recreation Council 
       b.    Youth Travel/Club Programs from Local Recreation Council 
       c.    Adult Programs from Local Recreation Council 
       d.    Youth Recreation/In-House level Programs from other Recreation Council 
       e.    Youth Travel/Club Programs from other Recreation Council 
       f.    Adult Programs from other Recreation Council 
3.    BCPS Programs
4.    Outside Non-Profit Organizations or Groups
       a.    Youth Programs
       b.    Adult Programs
5.    For-Profit Organizations or Groups
       a.    Youth Programs
       b.    Adult Programs

Q: Is the County moving to a first-come, first-served approach?
A: No. Following robust feedback from Recreation Councils, Nature Councils, and the public, the Department is announcing plans to maintain the current Permit Process and Priority Access Policy.

Q: What is the difference between Rec Leagues and Club/Travel leagues?
A: Recreational-Level teams or programs are open to all participants of the appropriate, prescribed, age-group. There is no secondary selection process based on skill, ability, or athletic prowess. Anyone that registers gets to play and participate.

Travel/Club teams or programs are formed exclusively of participants who are selected after passing some level of ability-based screening process such as a tryout. This does not include programs that hold evaluations so that they can attempt to evenly distribute talent throughout all competing teams within a rec program. In addition, Travel/Club teams typically cost more for children to participate.

View Rec League and Club/Travel League definitions. 

Q: Who sets my registration fees for Council programs and events? Where do my fees currently go?
A: Councils previously set, collected and directed all fees. The Department of Recreation and Parks did not previously receive any funds collected by Recreation or Nature Councils and did not receive any portion of the funds the Councils collect for maintenance and operations of public facilities.

The Department also does not have any involvement in setting Council registration fees and does not have any input into what Councils do with the funds they currently collect. 

Q: My child plays in a rec league. What do these changes mean for their program?
A: There are no changes for in-house programs for recreation councils. 

Q: My child plays in a travel or club league. What does this mean for their program?
A: To provide field and facility maintenance, equipment, operational overhead and quality customer service with field and facility staffing to support on site needs, the Department will begin to collect a nominal facility usage fee from Councils beginning in January 2025 for club and travel leagues.

In addition, the Department will be providing all field equipment (field chalk, goals, nets, etc.) for programs. These services were previously provided by Councils. It will be at the discretion of the Councils to determine whether to adjust their program registration fees.

Q: I play in an adult sports league. What does this mean for my program?
A: To provide field and facility maintenance, equipment and operational overhead and quality customer service with field and facility staffing to support on site needs, the Department will begin to collect a nominal facility usage fee from Councils for adult groups beginning in January 2025.

In addition, the Department will be providing all facility equipment (field chalk, goals, nets, etc.) for programs. These services were previously provided by Councils.

It will be at the discretion of the Councils to determine whether to adjust their registration fees.

Q: How are fees being determined?
A: Fees were determined with review of other local jurisdictions and on collaborative discussion with Stakeholder Groups. Following completion of robust stakeholder engagement, the Department has released this FY2025 fee schedule. 

As a reminder: No fees will be charged to Recreation In-House level programs at any time.

External Groups new fees will be effective on July 1 , 2024.

Recreation Council Travel/Club and Adult programming fees will be effective on January 1, 2025.

Q: Will these changes prevent club, travel, or adult programs from receiving field space?
A: No. To ensure recreational programs are appropriately prioritized, travel and adult programs will have access in line with the existing permitting order.

Currently, the County has many fields and spaces that are reserved by Councils but ultimately remain unused, often to the detriment of local recreation level programs. For example, one Council may have blanket permits for specific fields that go unused, while neighboring Councils may be turning children away from recreation level programs due to lack of available field space.

Meanwhile, other fields and spaces remain unrequested and unused. 

Beginning August 1, 2024, Baltimore County will increase monitoring of facility permits to ensure that allocations are used appropriately in line with permitting policies.

Q: Will this updated order give a higher priority to programs from outside existing Council boundaries?
A: No. Outside organizations and the general public will only receive permit access after recreation, travel, club, and adult programming.

Q: If I want to play lacrosse or soccer year-round, can I?
A: Yes. As part of Reimagine Recreation and Parks, the Department focused on increasing access to all residents. Facility access will continue to be based on established priority permitting guidelines.

Q: I am a volunteer coach for my child’s team. Am I covered under the County's insurance?
A: Council volunteers acting directly in their volunteer capacity are treated the same as County employees for liability and insurance coverage.

Q: Why is the County going to require Rec Councils to purchase insurance policies for volunteers?
A: In alignment with best practices, the Department will be requiring Councils to procure their own organizational insurance in order to provide increased liability protection in addition to the County’s current coverage. Individual volunteers will still be covered by the County’s policy and there is no change for the volunteers involved directly in the programs. Additionally, the Department will create grant opportunities for Councils to offset this cost.

Q: Did the Department engage with Councils on making these updates?
A: Yes, extensively. Several Councils were consulted as part of the report drafting process. All Council Presidents received an invitation to two input sessions in September 2023.

The County has held ten meetings with Councils to discuss these meetings since December 2023. Additionally, the Department held four Open House Listening Sessions this spring related to discussion on these updates.

Finally, the County has is continuing robust engagement with Recreation Councils and Nature Councils to discuss specific concerns and to work towards solutions.

Q: Where can I find a full list of programs?
A: CivicRec is Baltimore County’s new user-friendly online one-stop destination for all things related to County recreation facilities, programs, and park reservations.

CivicRec allows for online sign-up and easy online payments to be made online services.

Q: Can I still register through my Council’s page?
A: Yes. Programs that take place on County sites will be reserved and visible on CivicRec; however, registration for Council programs will continue to take place on each individual Council registration page.

Q: What if I have additional questions?
A: More information is available at: www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/recreation/reimagine-recreation-and-parks. Please email ReimagineRecandParks@baltimorecountymd.gov with additional questions.

The Department Fee Schedule includes fees that are applicable to items across the County such as pavilion and facility rentals, “drop-in” recreation programming, Department-led programs, beach access and watersports rentals etc. Fees that are associated with all external user groups that operate separately from certified recreation councils will go into effect July 1, 2024. New Fees that are associated with Recreation and Nature Councils will go into effect on January 1, 2025.

View the complete Fee Schedule.

PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS

The Department engaged PROS Consulting, an established recreation and parks consultant, to conduct an organizational change assessment. PROS created a Community Assessment Report which outlines 19 recommendations. Four of those 19 recommendations will be implemented first:

1. The CivicRec online registration platform is a new, one-stop destination for all things related to County recreation facilities, programs and park reservations.
2. A Permit Process and Priority Access Policy that prioritizes access to fields and facilities for community-based recreation programs. 
3. The Department will work to establish memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with each of the Recreation and Nature Councils.
4. All staff employed by the Department of Recreation and Parks will work exclusively for the Department of Recreation and Parks.

While the Department hopes to implement some form of each recommendation provided in the report, the actual achievement will depend on available resources, input and collaboration.

An overview of the initiative can be viewed by accessing the Reimagining Recreation presentation.

In May, the Department of Recreation and Parks hosted four open house and listening sessions throughout the County. View the presentation.