Parks and Rec membership fee increases delayed until October 1 due to computer system

treadmill.jpg
Flickr
Denver Parks and Recreation is delaying the implementation of its new, more expensive fee structure by a month. Instead of going to effect on September 1, the new fees will kick in on October 1. Why the reprieve? According to spokeswoman Kathy Maloney, it has to do with the new computer system.

In conjunction with the new fees, Parks and Rec is rolling out a new computer software system that will better track usage of all 27 rec centers, Maloney says. Instead of simply counting users who swipe their cards, she says the new system will be able to track individual users' habits, thereby giving Parks and Rec a fuller picture of who uses the rec centers, when and for what purpose.

The system should be ready by October 1, which is when the new fees will debut as well. Instead of paying a flat fee to use all centers, users will now buy a pass for one of three tiers: neighborhood (small centers), local (medium-sized) and regional (fully loaded).

Adults ages 25 to 64 will pay $190 per year for neighborhood centers. Adults who want to use local centers will have to pay $249, and the cost to use the regional centers will be $369 per year. Young adults ages 18 to 24, children and seniors will pay less.

In most cases, adults will pay much more than they do now. Currently, adult rec center memberships are sold in three-month ($52), six-month ($100) and annual ($190) increments, and all members can use all centers.

Will the increased fees drive members straight into the arms of 24-Hour Fitness and Bally's Total Fitness? Or will members overlook the higher cost in favor of supporting their neighborhood rec centers? Stay tuned.

More from our Follow That Story archives: "Kenyon Martin's house for sale: Sign that he expects to leave the Nuggets soon? (PHOTOS)"

My Voice Nation Help
2 comments
Sort: Newest | Oldest
Chris
Chris

Guess it's time to find a new gym.  I've been using the rec centers for years, but there's no way I'm going to pay those prices for such limited facilities.  The neighborhood center near me has ridiculously inconvenient hours - I can't imagine that anybody uses it other than retired seniors or the unemployed.

Nick Chabot-Olson
Nick Chabot-Olson

24 hour fitness here I come.  Not only will it be cheaper, but it's open...well 24 hours as opposed to the rec centers that have inconvenient weekend hours and an array of furlough days and pointless holidays keeping them closed.

From the Vault

 

©2013 Denver Westword, LLC, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Denver / Boulder

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city