The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department has proposed a series of fee adjustments for park users, citing increased demand and rising operating costs. The department says these changes are necessary to maintain the quality and accessibility of county parks.
Park operations—including utilities, wildfire mitigation, habitat preservation, facility maintenance, staffing, and trail upkeep—are funded primarily through user fees. These fees support the Operation Fund, which is essential for keeping parks safe and clean.
According to the department, the proposed adjustments would bring fees in line with those charged by other large park systems. This move aims to help protect natural resources, improve visitor experiences, and ensure that parks can meet community needs in the future.
“We are grateful for the Board’s support for park projects and improvements,” said Jennifer Waller, Director of Maricopa County Parks and Recreation. “However, a recent assessment of costs and revenues concluded that the current fee structure does not fully cover essential services or facility maintenance, putting the quality and sustainability of our parks at risk. To address this, we are proposing a modest, phased fee increase—the first since 2018. While we know fee increases aren’t ideal, this gradual approach helps keep parks affordable while ensuring we can continue delivering the services and experiences our visitors expect.”
The new fee schedule would be introduced over three years. While some prices will rise—including annual passes—the department will continue offering discounts to seniors and disabled veterans. Free outdoor education programs will remain included with entry fees, and select days in the fall will offer free admission.
A public meeting is scheduled for December 10, 2025, at the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Auditorium in Phoenix for community members who wish to comment on the proposal. If approved by county officials, Phase One of the new fee schedule would take effect on January 1, 2026.
The full list of proposed changes is available at www.maricopa.gov/parks/fees. Feedback can be submitted at www.surveymonkey.com/r/2025FeeAdjustmentFeedback during a 30-day public comment period. More information about Maricopa County’s regional park system can be found at www.maricopa.gov/parks.
Recent data shows that educational outcomes remain a challenge in Maricopa County schools: In the 2023-24 school year, only 36% of students in grades 3 through 8 passed the mathematics section of statewide assessments (https://www.azed.gov/), while just under 34% of high schoolers passed mathematics on standardized tests (https://www.azed.gov/).
