Merced County Municipal Code Ch. 5.60 County Park Fees

To establish the facility use policy for groups or individuals renting and using county park facilities and setting fees and charges for the use of such facilities, including vehicle entrance fees and parking fees for county parks.

(Ord. 1744 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1792 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1855 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2057, 4/21/2026)

For the purpose of determining the rental fees for the various uses, the following classifications are hereby established for the various groups and individuals that rent or use county park facilities:

A. Group A.

1. Business meetings hosted by the Merced County board of supervisors.

2. Nonprofit community organizations that have contributed to the construction and/or development of park facilities, or are partnered with the county for the operation of park facilities or programs.

B. Group B.

1. County departments when facilities are used for staff training (Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. only), professional organizational meetings, or employee retirement parties.

2. Organized youth organizations serving youths 18 years of age or younger, which are supervised by volunteers, and the event is attended by the youths represented by the organization.

3. Senior citizen's social clubs which are using the rented facility for their members.

Each organization or club must submit a written request to qualify for this group to the Merced County parks and recreation division for review and consideration and must be qualified by the director of public works.

C. Group C.

1. Nonprofit service, charitable, nonqualified youth organizations, registered political groups, governmental meetings/workshops (non-Merced County hosted), and fraternal organizations.

2. Private functions and individual reservations such as weddings, receptions, reunions, socials, and any type of out-of-county groups and organizations.

(Ord. 1744 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1792 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1855 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2057, 4/21/2026)

Based on the classification of a group or individual, the following fees and charges are hereby established to cover the maintenance and operational costs for these various uses/rentals:

A. Group A. No fee required. However, the actual cost of clean-up or damage (if needed) shall be billed to the organizations responsible for the reservation.

1. Non-profit groups that operate county park facilities or programs. Limited use as requested and to be arranged with the deputy director of public works (parks and recreation division).

B. Group B. Fees and charges to cover the cost of the county's out-of-pocket expense.

C. Group C. Fees and charges to cover the cost of the county's out-of-pocket expense for maintenance and operation, long-term maintenance of facilities and parking. A cash cleaning deposit will be required for all buildings and picnic shelters and is refundable, upon inspection by parks staff. Anyone requesting to decorate the night before an event, when the facility is not rented the night before by another group, will be charged at a rate of $50 per hour.

(Ord. 1744 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1792 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1855 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2057, 4/21/2026)

A. Park/Facility.

B. Refuse Collection. Additional fees may be charged if additional refuse collection is required by a group at a rental facility or special event. The rate charged will be that fee charged by the refuse collection agency to make an additional pick up.

(Ord. 1744 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1792 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1855 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2057, 4/21/2026)

County park buildings and facilities may not be used by any group or organization on a regular scheduled basis, except as designated in Section 5.60.020A Group A.

(Ord. 1744 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1792 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1855 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2057, 4/21/2026)

(Ord. 1744 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1792 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1855 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2057, 4/21/2026)

The following reservation procedure shall be followed for groups and/or individuals wanting to rent or use county park facilities:

A. Reservations for the use of park facilities at Hagaman, Henderson, and Winton County Parks must be made by contacting the parks and recreation division office, located at 345 W. 7th Street, Merced, or by calling (209) 385-7426.

B. Reservations for Group A will have priority in using park facilities. A list of meetings and functions requested may be submitted to the parks and recreation division office two years prior to the date of desired rental. Reservations for this group received within one year will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

C. Reservations for Group B and Group C will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for all facilities up to 12 months in advance. Groups that have reserved a minimum of five consecutive years, the same facility, on a holiday and desire to continue to reserve the same facility on the same holiday, may reserve the designated facility up to two years in advance. The fee will be 40% more than the current rental fee. The current fee will be determined by the rate one year in advance of the reservation date. The deposit rate will also be required one year in advance.

D. A facility may be tentatively reserved, either in person, by telephone, or written request and held for a period of up to two weeks. An application and agreement for the use of the park facilities must be completed and signed and rental fee paid (if applicable) within the two-week period or the tentative reservation will automatically be cancelled.

E. Any reservation that is cancelled with at least two weeks prior notice to the reservation date will be assessed a $15.00 processing fee.

F. Reservations cancelled less than two weeks of the reservation date will forfeit the total rental fee, no exceptions.

G. Any group, individual, or organization that reserves a facility and does not use that facility will forfeit the entire rental fee paid for the reservation.

H. The Merced County public works department, parks and recreation division reserves the right to limit the number of reservations for each facility on each given day to allow for scheduling of custodial services.

I. No reservations will be accepted for Christmas Day or New Year's Day.

J. All reservation facilities must be cleaned and vacated by 11:00 PM, unless otherwise permitted by the director of public works.

(Ord. 1744 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1792 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1855 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2057, 4/21/2026)

(Ord. 1744 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1792 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1855 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2057, 4/21/2026)

A. A vehicle admission fee of $6 per vehicle shall be charged at Hagaman and Henderson Parks; such fee is in addition to any other fees charged at Hagaman and Henderson Parks for use of special facilities or obtaining permits.

B. Exceptions. The following are exempt from the vehicle admission fee:

1. Pedestrians;

2. Bicyclists;

3. Government vehicles driven for governmental business (state, county, district, etc.);

4. Vehicles driven by county employees, contractors, or agents assigned to the park;

5. Vehicles driven by park concessionaires and employees working at the park;

6. Vehicles used for general business at the park, including deliveries and service calls;

7. Vehicles driven by individuals attending functions being held at rented facilities.

C. Annual Vehicle Pass. An annual pass for Merced County parks charging a vehicle admission fee can be purchased for $70, or for senior citizens 62 years or older, $45. For a vehicle containing a current pass that has the windshield replaced, a second pass will be available for $5, upon showing a current receipt.

(Ord. 1744 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1792 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1855 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2057, 4/21/2026)

Usage of public address equipment is available for a rental fee of $200 per day.

(Ord. 1744 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1792 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1855 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2057, 4/21/2026)

A. Signs. Signs advising park users of the various fees shall be posted.

B. Collection of Fees. The public works director is responsible for collecting all fees. Regular employees, extra help employees, or mechanical devices may be utilized as deemed necessary by the public works director.

(Ord. 1744 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1792 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1855 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2057, 4/21/2026)

A. Anyone requesting to hold a special event at a reservable area that requires a permit shall be assessed a $100 special event permit fee.

B. Anyone requesting to hold a special event at a non-reservable area that requires a permit shall be assessed a $300 special event fee.

C. Anyone requesting to hold a peaceable assembly in a park or public space that requires a permit shall be assessed a $20 fee.

D. Groups requesting to host special events at Henderson and Hagaman Parks shall be charged $375 per day for Saturday or Sunday or holiday (park open holiday) and $150 per regular weekday, not including the rental fees for the facilities. The park may be closed to the general public if reserved in its entirety.

E. Vendors at a special event that are "for-profit" must pay a fee of $20 per day and are subject to liability insurance. The vendor fee will be waived for vendors at a special event that are nonprofit service-related, but they are subject to liability insurance. Proof of nonprofit status may be required.

F. Fees for groups requesting to host a special event at any other county parks shall be negotiated with the deputy director of public works - parks and recreation.

G. Bounce Houses. All bounce house, dunk tanks and play apparatus companies or owners must provide liability insurance as required by risk management. A $15.00 permit processing fee will be assessed to all persons, groups or organizations requesting a permit for one of the above play structures.

(Ord. 1744 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1792 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1855 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2057, 4/21/2026)