Selectmen Approve Daily Use Fees for New Civic Recreation Center-July 11, 1984

Daily Fees Established for New Norwood Civic Recreation Center

Under the newly approved plan, residents between the ages of 14 and 18 will pay a daily fee of $1, while adults aged 18 to 62 will be charged $2. To ensure accessibility for the town’s most vulnerable populations, youngsters under 14 and seniors over 62 will be granted free admission to the facility, which features a gymnasium, exercise equipment, and showers. Officials emphasized that no resident would be denied access due to an inability to pay, though a nominal 25-cent charge for towels and soap may apply to those using the facilities for free.

The decision to eschew membership fees—which recreation officials had suggested at $75 for individuals and $125 for families—was met with significant debate. Town Manager John J. Carroll and Recreation Superintendent Robert H. Ivatts had advocated for the membership model, noting that it could generate approximately $100,000 annually to help offset the estimated $150,000 required to operate and maintain the center. Selectman John F. Kinnaly strongly objected to charging residents any admission at all, famously calling the membership proposal “lousy” and arguing that it was a back-door attempt to circumvent Proposition 2½ tax limitations. Kinnaly pushed for a “pay-as-you-play” system for specific programming, such as karate or ballroom dancing, rather than a general gate fee. The board ultimately agreed that specialized programs should carry separate costs, though they postponed finalizing these specific activity fees until further participation data can be analyzed. The facility, which is currently undergoing $1.5 million in renovations to the old Norwood Armory, is expected to open later this summer with a policy that restricts access exclusively to Norwood residents.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger