Kettering Pride organizers adjust event after city adds more fees for park use

Kettering Ohio Pride Coalition will not host their annual Pride event in Delco Park this year due to new park fees.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The city of Kettering, Ohio has implemented new park fees for events and shelter rentals, which has forced the Kettering Ohio Pride Coalition to adjust their annual Pride event that has been held in Delco Park for the past two years. The new fees, which are based on estimated attendance, have made the event too costly for the organization to host this year.

Why it matters

The decision to not host the Pride event this year is a significant loss for the LGBTQIA+ community in Kettering, as the event provided an important gathering and community-building opportunity. The new park fees highlight the challenges that community organizations can face when trying to host public events, especially those focused on marginalized groups.

The details

The new park fees in Kettering went into effect at the beginning of 2026 and include charges for shelter rentals and events hosted in any city park. The fees are based on the estimated attendance, with higher attendance requiring more city services. While the city offered the Kettering Ohio Pride Coalition a discount, the organization still could not afford to put on the event this year, with estimates ranging from $6,500 to over $10,000.

  • The new park fees in Kettering went into effect at the beginning of 2026.
  • The Kettering Ohio Pride Coalition has hosted their annual Pride event in Delco Park for the past two years.

The players

Kettering Ohio Pride Coalition

A local organization that has hosted the annual Pride event in Delco Park for the past two years.

Bill Tschirhart

The director of the City of Kettering Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department.

Kelley Summers

The co-president of the Kettering Ohio Pride Coalition.

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What they’re saying

“We wanna work with groups, right? And understand that it's not an exact science. It's a range. It's the easiest way to do it in terms of really, the impacts of the park, because if you have more people there, then you're gonna need more services.”

— Bill Tschirhart, Director of the City of Kettering Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department (dayton247now.com)

“We're all pretty disappointed that we can't put it on this year. We've never had to pay anything before.”

— Kelley Summers, Co-president of Kettering Ohio Pride Coalition (dayton247now.com)

“Unfortunately, there are some costs that they could help us with this year, but it still didn't make a significant amount of movement.”

— Kelley Summers, Co-president of Kettering Ohio Pride Coalition (dayton247now.com)

What’s next

The Kettering Ohio Pride Coalition is exploring alternative locations and options for hosting a Pride event this year, despite the new park fees making it too costly to hold the event in Delco Park.

The takeaway

The decision by the city of Kettering to implement new park fees has had a significant impact on the ability of community organizations like the Kettering Ohio Pride Coalition to host public events. This highlights the challenges that marginalized groups can face when trying to access public spaces and the importance of local governments working collaboratively with these organizations to find solutions.