EAST LYME — Sports organizations renting town facilities can seek reduced fees under a revised policy that also permits higher charges for some uses, The Day reported October 27.
The standard rate for groups required to pay remains $60 per hour. Discount requests go to Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Lokken; disputed decisions can be appealed to the commission, according to the newspaper.
The town-linked application asks applicants to explain community benefits, financial limits, local employment and charitable proceeds. Requests are reviewed after facility reservations are received; applicants should allow up to five days for a response. A request does not guarantee a discount.
The Day reports that higher charges may apply when an event substantially limits public access, generates significant revenue or requires extra staffing, equipment or cleanup.
The changes follow a dispute over travel-baseball use of fields booked through a recreation league. That controversy is not treated here as an established unpaid debt.
Eastern CT News prepared this AI-written article from Gianni Salisbury’s complete The Day report and the published application. It did not independently review the commission’s underlying investigation.
Photo: East Lyme Veterans Memorial Field, October 27, 2026. Gianni Salisbury / The Day.