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Table 3.5: Examples of charges commonly used by civic and community assets
Type of charge/fee Parks and Recreation Libraries Other
Entry
• Usually free
• Michigan state parks for
vehicle users
• City ice-skating rinks in
Baltimore
• Senior centers in Baltimore
• Free
• The Walker Art Centre
in Minneapolis — a nonprofit
with a high level of
state support
• Golf courses
Events
• Entry to firework displays in
city parks — notably on July 4 th
• Entry to “Blues, Brews, and
BBQs” events in city parks
• Free
• Special exhibitions at the
Minneapolis Institute of
Arts
Services
• Sports programs at parks such
as baseball (often waived for
those unable to pay)
• Yoga, dance, and exercise
classes (financial assistance is
less likely)
• Fines 47
• Rental of new highly
sought-after books for
one week on a nonrenewable
basis
• TV series box sets
• Fitness centers in
Baltimore City Councilrun
senior centers
• Summer camp at Baltimore
Rec Centers
• Video games
• DVD rental
Permits to use spaces or
rooms
• Corporate and special events
such as weddings, usually
high-fee, as at Nicolette Island
in Minneapolis.
• Picnic shelters in parks is
common often for family
reunions e.g. Lake Como Park
in St. Paul
• Community events, usually
low-fee
• Parking
• Use of meeting rooms by
community and interest
groups
• In Baltimore, the city
rents out space at
its senior centers to
organizations looking
to run classes for the
elderly or to sell them
things; the city may
give rent discounts for
relevant uses such as
WeightWatchers
Equipment hire
• Ice skates and, in a few cases,
skis
• Kayaks and canoes
• Bikes and segways
• Boats, dingys, and pedalloes
• Copies and faxes
• Computer use by nonresidents
• Internet use by nonresidents
• n/a
47
Public libraries can still raise money from fines on overdue books. One library even noted how it avoids using email reminders to readers to pay fines because slower
return meant more income. Fines are however simply not possible with the introduction of e-books; at a specific date, the book simply becomes unavailable. In
Hennepin County Library (in and around Minneapolis), for example, the introduction of e-readers is thought to be much of the reason behind the fall in fines from
$125,000 per year to $100,000.
Raising Money | 78