CITY VOTES FOR PARK USER FEE TO HELP PAY SNOW REMOVAL BILLS
The city of Halifax has voted in favour of a park user fee that is hoped will help pay for ballooning snow removal costs.
The city of Halifax has had to deal with over 300 cm of snow since the start of January, 2015.
The city budget for snow removal in 2015 was $20 million. Although the final numbers are not in yet, it is expected the actual costs will well exceed that.
The Park Plus system was approved at regional council Tuesday and will begin at municipal owned and operated parks on July 1.
Under the system, adult park visitors will pay a $2 fee to use the park facilities. Children and dogs will be charged $1.
April Foley with the Halifax Parks and Beaches department says it’s a small fee, but will go a long way.
“We estimate at least three million can be raised in the first year,” she said.
Frequent park visitors can opt for what the city is calling the 3-P, Park Plus Pass. Foley says it will work like the MacPass used on the harbor bridges.
“It can mean real savings for families,” she said. “And it’s more convenient too.”
A similar program was introduced in the community of Foole’s Cove, Newfoundland after the town had to raise extra money for summer events, but did not want to raise taxes.
Some of the parks that will start charging an entrance fee include Point Pleasant Park and the Public Gardens in Halifax; Shubie Park in Dartmouth. (HFX News)
