Youth leagues, sports organizations, and event operators renting the synthetic turf fields at Deerpath Community Park will pay 5% more per hour starting Saturday, August 1, 2026.
The Lake Forest City Council voted unanimously on Monday, July 20, to approve the increase after Parks and Recreation Director Mike Wick presented data showing the park's fields logged more than 3,800 hours of scheduled athletic use in 2025. That's up from more than 3,000 hours in 2024, a jump of roughly 27% in one year.
The rate hike feeds a dedicated reserve fund the city is building to cover the eventual $3.6 million cost of replacing the synthetic turf, which was installed approximately three years ago and carries an anticipated 10- to 12-year lifespan. Rental revenue is steadily building that reserve to pay for future replacement and major maintenance without placing those costs on taxpayers, according to a Parks and Recreation update published after the council meeting.
Who it affects
The fields at 400 Hastings Road host baseball diamonds and multipurpose fields used for soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, and tackle football. The specific dollar-per-hour rate was not published in city materials.
The increase is the latest step in a graduated pricing strategy the city adopted in 2023, when it set initial rental rates below market to build demand. In April 2025, the council approved a $5-per-hour flat increase as the prior step in that same plan.
The numbers
- Rate increase: 5%, effective Saturday, August 1, 2026
- 2025 field usage: More than 3,800 scheduled hours
- Year-over-year growth: Roughly 27% (from 3,000+ hours in 2024)
- Replacement reserve target: $3.6 million over a 10- to 12-year turf lifespan
- Vote: Unanimous
What's next
The city has not announced a next review date for rental pricing. The graduated strategy calls for continued incremental increases over the turf's lifespan to reach the $3.6 million replacement target. Renters can book fields online through the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation website.
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