AURORA | A new city rec center pass system allowing residents to visit all city facilities for one price has proved popular, increasing the number of people who buy passes and beefing up city park system revenues.
Since January, the city has seen a bump in its membership passes at three of its recreation centers, Beck Recreation Center, Utah Park Indoor Pool, and the Aurora Center for Active Adults.
“For three years people had to buy a pass for each center. Now there is one pass at one price,”said Byron Fanning, interim manager of recreation.
Under the new membership system, an annual or monthly pass includes unlimited use of the Aurora Center for Active Adults, Beck Recreation Center, and the Utah Pool.
He said the city has already sold 12,000 more drop-in passes than in 2014. According to city documents, the number of drop-in passes sold increased from 73,002 in 2014 to 85,317 in 2015.
That same data shows a 47 percent increase in membership revenue from 2014 to 2015. That revenue increased from $64,698 to $95,391, with a large increase in the number of family memberships sold.
This year, the city also divided pass prices into three categories: youth (age 2-17), young adult (18-26), adult (age 27-61), and senior (age 62+).
Annual resident passes can be purchased at the three rec centers for a family of two at $330, with each additional family member costing $160. Non-residents pay $435 for the same annual pass. Fanning said individual annual passes can be purchased at $174.
There is also a monthly EZPay option for residents and non-residents. A two-person monthly pass for adult residents cost $33. An additional adult can be added to that pass for $11.50 per month, a youth for $7.50 per month, and a senior for $9 per month.
Seasonal passes are also available for outdoor pools and start at $155 for two residents. An additional adult can be added to that pass for $56, an additional young adult (age 18-26) or senior (age 62+) for $47, and an additional youth for $41.
Fanning said the Del Mar outdoor pool would not be included as part of the seasonal pass this summer, but that the department would start offering free admission at all outdoor pools every Friday after Memorial Day.
The city has five recreation centers, with one specifically for youth. Beck Recreation Center is the only full-service facility in Aurora. It is also the largest at around 57,000 square feet. Moorhead Recreation Center in Original Aurora will finally be getting a bigger gymnasium and an indoor running track as part of a $13.25 million renovation plan Aurora City Council approved in May.
“According to city documents, the number of drop-in passes sold increased from 73,002 in 2014 to 85,317 in 2015. That same data shows a 47 percent increase in membership revenue from 2014 to 2015. That revenue increased from $64,698 to $95,391, with a large increase in the number of family memberships sold.”
The numbers don’t add up … the revenue from 85,317 passes only adds up to $95,391 … that equals a little over a buck a pass. Or am I missing something?