Larkspur approves new park events policy and fees

Larkspur will implement a new policy and set of fees for those using its parks for certain events.

The City Council voted Feb. 18 to approve three items pertaining to park events. It approved the creation of a special event policy, a bounce house fee at Piper Park and new fees for special events at parks. Councilmember Sarah Margulies and Councilmember Scot Candell were absent.

The city defines a special event as “any organized activity involving 250 (50 or more for small parks) or more people that is beyond the scope of typical park usage,” such as festivals, concerts, fundraisers and corporate gatherings.

Larkspur has 11 parks, the largest being Piper Park. Nick Stone, the recreation director, said the city receives special event requests for parks and had no formal way to address them consistently.

“I get a lot of requests for parties to happen at parks that we don’t traditionally program,” he said. “We don’t have a template for it.”

The new policy defines what is considered a special event; denotes event size restrictions and permitting requirements; and creates a formal application process. Only events organized by community organizations in Larkspur that serve city residents or businesses are eligible. Events sponsored or run by the city are exempt from the policy.

The bounce house fee applies only to Piper Park and allows organizers to use electricity to power air blowers that inflate the bounce houses. Without electricity, residents renting a bounce house typically rent a gas generator for power.

The city will now charge $50 for a half day of electricity and $75 for a whole day. Gas generators will no longer be allowed at Piper Park.

The special event fees apply to Piper Park, Niven Park, Greenbrae School Park, Dolliver Park and Neighborhood Park. Large events with 250 or more attendees will cost $500 an hour and are only allowed at Piper Park and Niven Park.

Small events with 50 or more attendees will cost $300 an hour. These events are available at Niven, Greenbrae School Park, Dolliver Park and Neighborhood Park.

The use of other parks will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants also will be required to put down a $2,000 deposit for potential damage.

Stone said the fees will not be applied to private events that land outside of the special event definition, such as large birthday parties. The town already has a system in place to rent the picnic tables at Piper Park for gatherings.

Some council members raised concerns about the fees.

“My general attitude is to bring the cost down to the public as much as possible, and then I also don’t want us to incur extra costs,” said Vice Mayor Gabe Paulson.

“The target of this policy is not ‘Mr. Resident of Larkspur,’” said Dan Schwarz, city manager. “This is for organizations that want to take a piece of public space out of the public use for a period of time and have exclusive use, potentially doing fundraising and charging admission.”