EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso County Commissioners approved new fees for several parks and recreation programs Monday, including pool rentals at Ascarate Park and golf cart rentals.
County Parks and Recreation Director Tim Fulton told commissioners the changes are designed to help cover operating and maintenance costs while keeping public recreation accessible for local families.
“We know El Paso has many areas of low-income neighborhoods,” Fulton said. “So, we want to keep our prices very affordable for those folks because we feel parks and recreation in particular is something we all need.”
The new fee schedule is set to take effect Oct. 1.
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At the Ascarate Aquatics Center, pool rentals will move to a tiered model, ranging from $200 an hour for a two-hour rental to $300 an hour for a four-hour rental.
An exclusive full-pool rental will cost $500 an hour, with a four-hour maximum. The county is also adding a non-exclusive pool party option for up to 50 guests at $100 an hour.
Golf cart fees at Ascarate Golf Course will increase by $1 for an 18-hole solo cart rental, from $16 to $17. A full cart for two riders will increase from $32 to $34. Green fees will remain unchanged.
Daily admission to county pools will also stay the same: $3 for general admission at the Ascarate Aquatics Center and $2 at the Gallegos and Veterans community pools in Fabens.
The county plans to add seasonal swim passes, priced at $30 for general admission and $20 for eligible discounted groups.
The proposal also includes updated sports park, field rental, and tournament fees, including a new $600 adult softball team registration fee and cleanup fees for certain events.
See the full presentation below:
mini-packet_Commissioners Court Regular – Business_20260824212817789PDF previewPreview PDF
mini-packet_Commissioners Court Regular – Business_20260824212817789
County staff said the fee adjustments follow National Recreation and Park Association cost-recovery guidance and are intended to reduce reliance on general fund subsidies while maintaining affordable access.
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