Pasadena to Slash Prices for Youth Recreation Programs in Summer, Fall

In an effort to get kids active again as the pandemic appears to be winding down, as well as support cash-strapped families as they recover from it, the Pasadena Department of Parks, Recreation and Public Services has announced plans to dramatically reduce prices for its youth recreation programs for the upcoming summer and fall seasons.

The department is scheduled to provide an informational presentation on the plan to the City Council at their upcoming Monday meeting, but no action from the council is needed, as the proposal already falls within a range previously approved by city officials, Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Brenda Harvey-Williams said.

There were several reasons behind the decision, which comes as state guidelines pertaining to youth sports programs enacted in response to the pandemic have been relaxed, she said.

“We want to be able to fill our parks up this summer with kids being able to get out and play,” Harvey-Williams said.

“We know that COVID has financially impacted many families and they may not be able to afford our fees, so we wanted to reduce them across the board,” she said.

“But most of all, we just want to activate our parks, get the kids out. Following months of stay-at-home orders and distance learning, “It’s a way to incentivize people to bring their children out and their teens to get them out of the house, come out, play and have a good time like you should be doing — kind of let people remind them they’re kids again,” Harvey-Williams said.

Scholarships and financial help is available for families unable to afford the new fees.

“ We don’t mind money to be a reason that kids can’t come out and go to summer camp this summer and take summer swim lessons, or be on a sports team this summer,” Harvey-Williams said.

“We’re very excited,” she added. “We’re recreation and our staff hasn’t been able to provide the recreation services that they’re used to doing. So they’re excited to hopefully have parks filled with kids that are taking advantage of the programs that we’ll be offering.”

Youth basketball, flag football, soccer and volleyball programs will be cut from the usual price of $65 per season to $10, according to a report prepared by the agency.

Non-contact boxing, which was previously $25 per session, will now be free, officials said.

The cost of group swim classes will be reduced from $50 per session to $10.

Summer day camp program prices will also be cut dramatically. Those that previously cost $95 per week will be reduced to $10 per week. The city’s Arroyo Seco day camp program, normally $118 per week, will be reduced to a cost of $25 per week. Day camp programs traditionally costing $50 will be free, while fees for teen programs in the summer and fall will also be waived entirely.

More information is available on the Pasadena Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services website at cityofpasadena.net/parks-and-rec.