The City of Saint John will increase the price for using sports fields starting this summer as a subsidy policy is implemented over the next three years.
A meeting was held in January involving various groups that use tennis courts, ball fields and arena floors.
Tim O’Reilly explained the rollout to the mayor and council on Monday night.
“In 2020, the intent is to go to 40 per cent of those policies, go up to 70 per cent in 2021 and then hit our entire policy level that council adopted in 2022,” O’Reilly said.
Some user groups expressed concern over potential increases in the coming years.
“City staff has listened and heard those concerns of the different groups and the implementation plan we are discussing takes into account a lot of that feedback we have received,” O’Reilly said.
O’Reilly says renting a sports field will cost between $0.43 and $2.27 per hour more this summer.
During the discussion on Monday, Councillor Blake Armstrong asked O’Reilly if the concerns by users could impact who plays this summer.
O’Reilly said he’s confident everyone will play because the rate increases are minor.
“I have had in-depth discussions with the Saint John Alpines and they are content with the rates that are being proposed this year,” O’Reilly said.
Council did approve the rate changes.
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