It’s getting more expensive to have fun in Chicago.
In an effort to plug a $23 million budget hole, the Chicago Park District is raising its rates for things like boat slips, summer camps and fitness center memberships.
Resident’s can expect to pay about five percent more for such activities than they did last year.
Poorer areas are spared outlandish increases for day camps because those fees are based on the average income of the neighborhood.
Residents in needy nabes will see six-day camp rates rise from $110 to $115, while residents of, say, Lincoln Park will see rates go from $500 to $525.
Boat slips will rise by 2.5 to 5 percent.
Museum prices are likely to go up as well, because the park district’s $392 million budget includes a 10 percent cut in funding to the seven of the city’s largest museums.
For the Chicago History Museum that means their funding will decrease by $236, 000.
The park board plans to vote on a proposal to increase museum admission fees by $1 for city residents and $2 for non-residents at a meeting later today.
