City Times Staff

The Stevens Point Board of Park Commissioners on Wednesday will consider approving a new non-refundable deposit on lodge rentals.

If approved, the $100 deposit will be required whenever someone rents a lodge for two days or more.

In a memo to the board, Parks Director Tom Schrader said the city often rents lodges to large parties who then don’t show up for their rental dates.

“Over the past several years we are starting to see people reserving a lodge to host a wedding, only to not show up on the day of the reservation,” Schrader’s memo read in part.

“They book a lodge, but in the meantime find another venue that they like better and never call us back to cancel their reservation,” the memo continues. “With lodge rentals being very popular, when this happens not only do people wanting to rent a lodge not get one they would use, we lose money when lodges sit empty on weekends.”

Lodges can be rented for $185 through the end of 2016, and $195 in 2017. Under the new rule, the $100 deposit is due five working days before the event and would be credited towards the rental fee. If the deposit is not paid, the rental is cancelled.

The city offers lodge rentals at Bukolt Park, Pfiffner Pioneer Park and three facilities at Iverson — the Iverson Park All-Purpose Lodge; the Iverson Park Boy Scout Lodge; and the Iverson Park Girl Scout Lodge. For more information, see the city’s website.

The city has a last-minute cancellation at the Pfiffner Building on June 11 and 12. For more information, or to make a reservation, call (715) 346-1531.

The Board of Park Commissioners meets at 6:30 PM on June 1 at the Rec Center, 2442 Sims Avenue.