Park Commission backs permit process with user fees
The Park Commission voted to pursue a park permitting process that includes fees. A subcommittee that included member Jeffrey Ohringer surveyed 10 nearby communities and found all charged field fees and kept the money in parks revolving funds, leaving Groton the only one of 11 with no fees.
Park Commission · Meeting of January 12, 2026
GROTON — The Park Commission voted to pursue a park permitting process that includes fees. A subcommittee that included member Jeffrey Ohringer surveyed 10 nearby communities and found all charged field fees and kept the money in parks revolving funds, leaving Groton the only one of 11 with no fees. The Parks Department spent $76,227 on four properties in fiscal 2024 against a capital budget of $25,000.
The motion, approved by voice vote, calls for fees placed in a revolving fund with public input. A revolving fund would need approval at spring Town Meeting. Lacrosse representative Pat McAdams warned higher registration costs could price children out.
In the full story:
- The Full Story
- Why It Matters
- Key Motions & Votes
- Source
- Groton's community access TV: Park Commission meeting, January 12, 2026
- The complete report: 757 words
Source: the Park Commission meeting of January 12, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.
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