The fee per day for adults will be $5, and $4 for youth and seniors. But it’s the annual memberships where the big increase is — an adult annual pass will be $285, compared to the $108 residents currently pay. In Orem and Lehi, residents pay $207 and $236 respectively for annual rec center passes. A family membership will be $493 in comparison to the current fee of $195. The youth and senior annual fees will be $157; they currently pay $80. These fees are all based on Provo residency. Non-residents will pay more.

Recreation division director Scott Henderson said there isn’t a rec center in the state that compares to what Provo is building, so it was hard to compare it fee-wise. The rec department has taken the time to listen to stakeholders and residents on the issue.

“Of course, the best fee is no fee,” Henderson said. “We have had some great dialogue on the issue and have learned some good things.”

He added, “It’s daunting to some who look at the current fees as compared to what they will be. We talk to them about what they’ll be receiving. Education is always helpful.”

According to Roger Thomas, director of parks and recreation, the fees were computed by Ken Ballard of Ballard King Associates in Colorado, based on the recreation department feasibility study. Pros Consulting out of Indianapolis, which has worked with more than 700 recreation facilities throughout the U.S., also weighed in on the fee structure.

“When we took them on a tour of the rec center they said of all the recreation centers they have seen, ours is in the top 2 percent. We felt really good about that,” Thomas said of Pros Consulting.

The new center is taking shape, and Thomas said it will be completed in five to six months.

The outdoor tennis courts and the skate park are nearly completed. Most of the work being done now is on the inside. The buildings being replaced by the new center, including the Eldred Center, will be demolished as weather permits.

“When it’s complete the city’s recreation division will move its office to the new center. We have everything going on at North Park. We will be a three-block recreation hub,” Henderson said.

Mayor John Curtis said at a recent council meeting that the recreation department was given three marching orders on the project: come in under budget, be done on time and be one of the top recreation centers in the nation. They are doing all three.

For a complete list of fees, discounts and rental options visit www.provo.org and look under parks and recreation.