Across the nation, recreation and park agencies are being forced to generate increasingly larger portions of their own revenue--from 20 percent in some places to nearly total revenue offset in others. The primary cost burden is steadily shifting from the general taxpayers to those who use the recreation services. Park agencies continue to shift toward "user fees" (also known as "pay to play") as the primary funding mechanism to offset costs. In Prince William County, Virginia, for example, there are fees for softball, soccer, and basketball, as well as larger fees for individualized instruction. All of these charges are designed to raise enough money to offset the cost of the county's non-revenue-generating facilities, such as neighborhood parks. "Pay to play" has the added benefit of increasing consumer choice. In Prince William County, you can line dance or tap dance; do water aerobics or children's aerobics; participate in yoga, jujitsu, tai chi, or Isshinryu karate; and take classes in parenting, baby-sitting, life guarding, shooting, auto purchasing, or dog training.

In Los Angeles County, supervisors are considering a 10-year agreement with Anaheim-based Outdoor Safari International to operate Castaic Lake. If the plan is approved, lake entry fees would jump from $6 to $12. If Castaic Lake becomes privately operated, however, anglers would no longer need a $26.50 state fishing license.

Tighter budgets and revenue loss have also prompted the U.S. Forest Service to consider privatization of many of its parks and campgrounds. In New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest, for example, the forest service is planning to use private operators for 20 of its 22 campgrounds. The Forest Service will maintain control of the campgrounds, while the private operators will be responsible for the day-to-day operations. Bids for operators were sent out in December 1996; the Forest Service will award contracts sometime this spring. Meanwhile, state park officials in Alaska say private contracting is their only option short of shutting down parks. The state will choose a private contractor to run the Anchor River Park, which has 165 campsites in five campgrounds, and three campgrounds in the Copper Center area. State officials issued a request for proposals, and a decision as to who will manage the state parks is expected by early April.