Maricopa Slashes Rental Prices for City Facilities

Members of the Maricopa Pumas youth cheer team lined up for practice drills at Copper Sky Regional Park on July 31, 2023. They train during the day, avoiding added fees for field lighting.

In response to a year-long review of city-owned facilities, Maricopa officials are working to make renting fields and other spaces more affordable. This proposal was presented by the Community Enrichment Department during a recent city council meeting.

Most rental rates for facilities such as Copper Sky, Pacana Park, and the Maricopa Community Center are set to decrease by at least 11%. These reductions will apply across various categories, including local businesses, residents, and nonprofit organizations.

Residents and nonprofits will benefit significantly, as their rates are already 35% lower than the base fee. Notably, discounts of 20% to 25% will affect the courts at Pacana Park and Copper Sky, alongside the outdoor amphitheater and conference rooms at the community center, which also caters to senior citizens.

Moreover, the cost to activate field lighting will now be a flat rate of $12, aimed solely at covering hard costs. Additionally, fees for renting the group ramada at Pacana Park have been completely eliminated.

The city is responding directly to community feedback, particularly from nonprofit leaders who expressed frustration over high rental costs. Maricopa Moose Founder Stan Hayes voiced concerns about feeling financially strained, emphasizing the challenges nonprofits face. Similarly, Jamie Harrison from Relay for Life of Maricopa echoed these sentiments, indicating that operational costs felt prohibitive.

In light of these concerns, the city has lowered facility rates by up to 35% since October 2023 and conducted a comprehensive usage study revealed at the recent meeting. Officials used two primary methods to ascertain the new rates: analyzing usage throughout 2024 and comparing prices to nearby municipalities like Tempe and Gilbert.

The goal is to ensure that city facilities remain accessible and encourage greater community utilization. Recreation Superintendent David McLeish explained that setting rates below market levels aims to enhance affordability and promote usage. “Some of these reductions focus more on increasing utilization rates than matching market prices,” he stated.

City council members are expected to discuss further updates in February, including potential implementation dates for the new rates.