Wood River Applies For Parks Grant Amid Fee Increases

Wood River City Council Meeting

WOOD RIVER – Certain fees are set to increase at the Wood River Rec Center and Belk Park Golf Course as the city seeks Madison County grants funds for park improvements.

City Council members unanimously approved an ordinance updating rates and fees for the Belk Park Golf Course and Wood River Recreation Center at their March 2, 2026 meeting.

Parks & Recreation Director Pat Minogue said Rec Center fees will be increasing slightly after remaining unchanged for the past two years. The monthly membership fees for all age categories and districts will increase by $1. He said the yearly membership rates will remain unchanged, making it a better deal by comparison.

The hourly fees to use various spaces at the Rec Center will also be raised, including the multipurpose room with kitchenette, gymnastics room, both gymnasiums, and the batting cages. Minogue said these new Rec Center rates will take effect on May 1, 2026.

As for the Belk Park Golf Course fees, Minogue said the ordinance simply updates the City Code to reflect the amounts they’ve recently been charging to use the golf course, most of which are actually lower than those listed in the ordinance.

The only golf course rates actually being raised are the “Twilight Rates” for weekend use after 3 p.m., which will increase from $30 to $35, and the rates for residents and non-residents to golf 18 holes, which will increase by $1. These new golf course rates will take effect immediately, Minogue said.

Also approved was the city’s application for up to $117,385 in Park Enhancement Program (PEP) funds from Madison County. According to the resolution, these grant funds would be used on the following park improvement projects:

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  Rec Center gymnasium soundproofing: $39,531

• Oasis renovation: $21,486

• SCAG zero-turn lawn mower: $14,429

• Belk Park pavilion renovation: $14,326

• Belk Park bridge gazebo: $12,690

• Belk Park gazebo renovation: $9,504

• Additional bleachers for Rec Center: $3,600

• Gymnastics equipment: $1,819

A full recording of the March 2, 2026 Wood River City Council meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.

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