The Cost of Kelly Brown

Kelly Brown laughing beside a “Costa Mesa Park Fee” pay station, with caution tape strung across Fairview Park

Pop Quiz:

Which park fees did Kelly Brown vote to raise?

  • A. Park picnic and party rentals2
  • B. Youth sports field rentals3
  • C. Swim lessons4
  • D. And more…12

Most by 30%. The Parks Commission voted 7-0 with Chair Kelly Brown voting yes, June 11, 2026.1

Everything costs more. Kelly Brown voted to make our parks cost more, too.

  • Park Rentals Up 30%2
  • Youth Sports Fields Up 30%3
  • Swim Lessons Up to 30%4
  • Party Deposits Doubled5
  • New Tournament Fee6

And Brown voted to make Fairview Park harder to use.

  • Trails Closed7
  • Bikes Restricted8
  • Concerts Pushed Out9

How easy was it for Kelly Brown to raise park fees?

  1. Staff proposed sparing most programs.

    In May, city staff recommended “avoiding increases to most recreation program fees.” Kelly Brown’s commission asked for all fees to be brought back adjusted for inflation.10

  2. Public comment: none. Vote: 7-0.

    The increases passed unanimously, with Chair Kelly Brown voting yes.1

  3. And she can raise fees again and again…

    Under city code, Brown’s commission “set[s] the fees to be charged to participants in recreation and community programs and classes.”11

Even Concerts in the Park:

Daily Pilot

Concerts in the Park return to Fairview, renewing concerns about endangered species

By Eric Licas · July 9, 2026

Costa Mesa’s Fairview Park is the venue for Concerts in the Park in July. Next year, the event’s location could change…

Other commissioners also supported the idea of suggesting new venues for Concerts in the Park, voting 7-0 to approve the draft of the panel’s annual report to the City Council…

Read the article9 →

If Kelly Brown voted to raise park fees, what’s next when she’s elected to city council?

We can’t afford Kelly Brown.