Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DPR is now tweeting that the pools and fitness centers will continue to be free for DC residents. Apparently the regs were focused on changes to the permit fees not admission fees. Too bad they didn't say this in the press release.

https://twitter.com/DCDPR/status/752117673731829760
It shows what we can charge. Pools and fitness centers remain free to DC residents. Apologies for confusion. ^GC

Wow, they really blew the press on this one. Why not make clear that these were the new rates for non-residents?

I have to say, the fees online were CLEARLY for residents and not just for permits. However, I put it on the Shepherd Park listserv (after seeing this on DCUM) and Brandon Todd (Ward 4 councilmember) got so much hate, DPR issued a new press release yesterday saying that the fees were waived for residents.

This is one time DCUM put our politicos feet to the fire! I am convinced that the fees would have been slipped in, but people went crazy.

Anonymous wrote:DPR is now tweeting that the pools and fitness centers will continue to be free for DC residents. Apparently the regs were focused on changes to the permit fees not admission fees. Too bad they didn't say this in the press release.

https://twitter.com/DCDPR/status/752117673731829760
It shows what we can charge. Pools and fitness centers remain free to DC residents. Apologies for confusion. ^GC

Wow, they really blew the press on this one. Why not make clear that these were the new rates for non-residents?

Anonymous wrote:Most cities have free public pools????

For residents, yes. I know my hometown did.

Baltimore does have a fee. it's $1 or $2 depending on the pool, for two-hour admission.

Most cities have free public pools????

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are welcome to charge but I doubt our family of four will go nearly as often if we have to pay - one of the main reasons we used to go to the neighborhood pool as opposed to doing something else was because it was free. I wonder how much their attendance will fall off after this.

Also, don't DC residents pay taxes for these services already? And how about many DC residents who cannot afford those fees? Silly idea.

FFX county charges for rec centers and we still pay all kinds of fees. Why do DC residents expect something different?

Because FFX sucks.

This entire exercise, like the rest of DC govnt is a joke.

NYC like most cities has free outdoor pools. Rec centers cost $150 annually for adults.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are welcome to charge but I doubt our family of four will go nearly as often if we have to pay - one of the main reasons we used to go to the neighborhood pool as opposed to doing something else was because it was free. I wonder how much their attendance will fall off after this.

Also, don't DC residents pay taxes for these services already? And how about many DC residents who cannot afford those fees? Silly idea.

FFX county charges for rec centers and we still pay all kinds of fees. Why do DC residents expect something different?

As to why you in FFX have to pay and we do not - ask your local government. I personally think it would be better to advocate for your public facilities to be free then for someone else's to be paid so as to spread the misery. I also note that DC has a much higher tax rate than Virginia (both income and sales), so if some miniscule portion of it rebates towards free facilities for those paying, so much the better. Also, DC residents have no lakes or swimmable rivers in their jurisdiction (unlike Virginia). It's pool or nothing.

Anonymous wrote:They are welcome to charge but I doubt our family of four will go nearly as often if we have to pay - one of the main reasons we used to go to the neighborhood pool as opposed to doing something else was because it was free. I wonder how much their attendance will fall off after this.

Also, don't DC residents pay taxes for these services already? And how about many DC residents who cannot afford those fees? Silly idea.

FFX county charges for rec centers and we still pay all kinds of fees. Why do DC residents expect something different?