Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks Announces Latest Efforts to Modernize Delivery of Programs, Promote Equity, and Streamline Services

June 25, 2024

TOWSON, MD — The Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks today announced the latest updates as part of ongoing efforts to modernize delivery of programs, advance equity, and ensure efficient and equitable opportunities for all residents in Baltimore County.

REVISED PERMIT PROCESS AND PRIORITY ACCESS POLICY ANNOUNCED
Following robust feedback from Recreation Councils, Nature Councils, and the public, the Department is announcing plans to maintain the current Permit Process and Priority Access Policy.
 
The existing Permit Process and Priority Access Policy is provided below and available online here.

  1. Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks Programs
  2. Certified Recreation Councils 
    1. Youth Recreation/In-House level Programs from Local Recreation Council
    2. Youth Travel/Club Programs from Local Recreation Council
    3. Adult Programs from Local Recreation Council
    4. Youth Recreation/In-House level Programs from Other Recreation Council
    5. Youth Travel/Club Programs from Other Recreation Council
    6. Adult Programs from Other Recreation Council
  3. BCPS Programs
  4. Outside Non-ProfitOrganizations 
    1. Youth Programs
    2. Adult Programs
  5. Outside For-ProfitOrganizations 
    1. Youth Programs
    2. Adult Programs

FY2025 FEE STRUCTURE AND TIMELINE RELEASED

Following continued community feedback, including input from the Board of Recreation and Parks and other stakeholders, the Department is releasing the following fee structure for FY2025.

This newly revised structure will modernize current Department fees bringing them in line with benchmarked jurisdictions.

Additionally, this represents the first time that the Department has endeavored to publish fees to the public creating better transparency. Fees range from pavilion and facility rentals to modest program fees for youth and adult recreation users.
 
Beginning July 1, 2024:
External Non-Profit and For-Profit Organizations or Groups that operate separately from Certified Recreation Councils will be charged fees according to the following FY2025 fee schedule. 

Beginning January 1, 2025:
There will continue to be no charges for Certified Recreation Council In-House Youth Programs.
To support field and facility maintenance, funding for all field equipment (including chalk, goals, nets, etc.), and ensuring quality customer service with appropriate field and facility staffing, the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks will collect the following fees:

  • Recreation Council In-House Youth Programs: No charges for participants.
  • Recreation Council Travel/Club Youth Programs: $10 per participant per season.
  • Recreation Council Adult Programs: $25 per participant per season.

More information, including full definitions of all programs and the complete FY25 fee schedule, is available online here.

REIMAGINING RECREATION AND PARKS

As Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Department is leading a comprehensive effort to Reimagine Recreation and Parks, developed in partnership with leading professional management planning firm PROS Consulting, Inc., which outlines a long-term, community-driven roadmap to rethink the department based on national best practices. The final Reimagining Recreation and Parks for Baltimore County report is available here.

Earlier this year, Baltimore County launched the CivicRec online registration platform, a new one-stop destination for all things related to County recreation facilities, programs, and park reservations. With CivicRec, all Baltimore County Recreation and Parks programs, including nature, environmental, and agriculture programs, opportunities at County Recreation Activity Centers (RACs), and upcoming special events, such as summer camp registrations, are now located in one comprehensive, user-friendly, online platform. Learn more here.

In addition, Baltimore County’s recently-approved FY2024 budget provides over $6 million — an over 30 percent increase — in the Department of Recreation and Park to begin rightsizing the historical underfunding of the Department.

Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks will continue to implement additional efforts in the coming months to further modernize and streamline programs as part of this department-wide effort.
More information about the updates announced today, including links to the complete fee schedule, is available online here.

More information about the ongoing efforts to improve the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks is available here or at baltimorecountymd.gov/reimaginerec.

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