Higher recreation fees are hurting the Wildwood Dixie Youth League, the league’s board members told Wildwood commissioners on Monday.
“We were going to try to put together a fall baseball league, but we couldn’t afford the fees,” said board member Rick Walsh, adding that about 150 kids were expected to participate.
The board members said fees that used to be $950 a season now have risen to over $4,000.
Over the years, the league has grown from a small group of a few players to a popular activity, board members said.
Mayor Ed Wolf said parks and recreation director Dennis Andrews was directed to revise the fee schedule.
“What you did last year and what it costs, it goes up every year,” he told the board members. “We’re not what we were five years ago.”
Commissioners voted in February to lower fees for use of the Wildwood Community Center, but raise them for city sports facilities.
Andrews said a problem has been that fields are prepped for use at city expense and then not used by leagues that requested them.
He said Wildwood’s recreation fees are lower than some other communities.
Wolf suggested that the board members meet with Andrews and City Manager Jason McHugh to find a solution for the league.
“There is a solution,” said Commissioner Joe Elliott.