The Parks & Recreation Commission on Tuesday approved changes to the booking structure for the Fruit Street athletic complex, raising rates for in-town users roughly 10% for both the grass and turf fields.

The commission has been working since October to evaluate the existing booking process for Fruit Street and whether or not to increase rates. The complex has two full-sized turf fields and three 9v9 grass fields. Hopkinton Youth Soccer and local cricket organizations are the heaviest users of Fruit Street, generating around $206,000 in revenue for 2025.

In March, the commission adjusted rates for out-of-town user groups from $175 to $190 per hour per. The net profits from charging for field use — around $36,000 last year after $170,000 in maintenance costs — are meant to recoup the cost of eventual turf replacement at Fruit Street.

Lewitus shared with the commission on Tuesday initial plans to adjust the way fields are booked and the fees for each. He explained that under the current system, Parks & Rec treats the complex as three fields, for which it charges in-town users $25 per hour per grass field. 

“What I’m proposing is we break those three into five … and book it in our system that way,” said Lewitus. To accommodate the change, the rate per field would be dropped from $25 to $15. HYS or another user could then reserve all five fields for $75 per hour, the same as they would for booking three.

Lewitus also shared a plan to break up field reservations into seasons: spring, summer and two fall sessions. He explained the fall had been divided to account for available play time due to changing daylight hours. Wrapping up his overview, Lewitus shared that bookable hours for the Fruit Street fields ranged from 2-3.5 per weeknight and 10-11.5 on the weekends, depending on the season.

When asked by member Amy O’Donnell about current utilization numbers, Lewitus noted that his data showed Parks & Rec was booking about 40% of the usable hours. He attributed this to the booking system’s current configuration, how users are blanket-booking hours and a lack of advertising to outside user groups.

In discussing how to increase usage and bring in more business, vice chair Kyle Smith called 50% utilization “a pipe dream.” Lewitus disagreed, stating he believed it was possible to get above that number. 

Chair Dan Terry noted that even at 50%, Parks & Rec still is losing money on maintenance costs for the turf fields. He reiterated this point when commissioners began to discuss adopting the new booking system and adjusting the proposed rate from $15 to $17.50 per hour.

“That 10% increase in revenue is addressing probably a 50-70% increase in the cost to maintain the field[s],” said Terry.

O’Donnell cautiously voiced support for the changes in the booking fees. “I don’t take increasing the fees at any of these fields lightly, because I know how much youth sports cost in this town, and it’s excessive,” she said.

Following more discussion, the commission voted to adopt the new booking system and increase the grass rates to $17.50 per hour per field. It also adjusted the rates for turf fields from $90 to $100.

Lewitus clarified during the discussion that the new fees will be implemented for the fall 2026 season.

Adjustments made to soccer MOU

The Parks & Rec Commission reviewed a draft agreement of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with HYS about sports equipment, noting it wanted language around equipment quality and financial disclosures.

Lewitus explained to the commission that Parks & Rec had drafted an MOU with the youth soccer organization regarding equipment on the turf fields at Fruit Street. He noted that HYS purchased the goals and nets on the fields and maintains them. However, other programs and groups use the equipment regularly.

The agreement, according to Lewitus, would provide HYS a $1,000 credit for the use of the goals and nets. Parks & Rec would be responsible for covering costs of things not considered reasonable wear and tear.

Commissioners were open to the agreement as drafted. Smith asked whether there was language about the expectation of appearance and quality. “If you have effectively a paid renter of the equipment, expectations change,” he said. “Somebody’s paying for [use of] the equipment, so it needs to be upkept.”

Terry suggested adding fiscal transparency as part of the memorandum, asking for “some sort of credit check” on HYS and other organizations Parks & Rec enters into agreements with. His primary worry was that if HYS became insolvent, the department might have to take on running youth soccer. He also wanted to make sure there were no oversized benefits to the organizations when Parks & Rec makes these agreements.

“We did the same thing with the farmers market to make sure they’re not making $1 million while we’re waiving fees,” Terry explained.