Why Is There a $25 Group Booking Fee?

In spring of 2026, CSRA introduced a $25 fee for group bookings. Group bookings have historically been available without a separate booking fee. Following a review of our operations and the actual resources required to support larger group gatherings, CSRA determined that it was no longer reasonable for all of the additional costs associated with group bookings to be absorbed entirely through the annual lake fees paid by all homeowners.

The $25 fee is intended to offset a portion of these additional costs and encourage responsible use of the group booking program.

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Why Was the Fee Introduced?

Group bookings require more resources than regular day-to-day use of CSRA facilities. Some of the recurring costs and operational issues CSRA has experienced include:

• Additional staffing: Larger groups require additional staff attention for preparation, facility support, cleanup and restoring areas for other residents.

• Booking administration: Staff time is required to process requests, review availability, communicate with residents, coordinate staffing and resources, maintain guest lists, and manage changes and cancellations.

• Cancellations and no-shows: Staffing and resources may already have been scheduled for a confirmed booking. Last-minute cancellations and no-shows can therefore result in costs even when the booking does not proceed.

• Lost booking opportunities: A confirmed booking occupies one of the limited group-booking times available. A late cancellation or no-show may prevent another resident from using that booking opportunity.

• Garbage left behind: Booking residents are required to take all garbage generated by their group with them when they leave. Unfortunately, this requirement is not always followed, leaving CSRA staff responsible for collection, cleanup and disposal.

• Improper waste disposal: Food and organic waste has been placed in bottle-recycling containers and recycling has been mixed with garbage, requiring staff to manually sort contaminated waste.

• Additional cleanup: Picnic areas, tables, barbecue areas and surrounding grounds are not always left clean after group gatherings, requiring additional staff time.

• Lake cleanliness: Food packaging, napkins, wrappers and other materials associated with gatherings have been found in the lake and surrounding areas, creating additional cleanup and contributing to lake-cleanliness concerns.

• Higher supply and consumable costs: Cleaning products, garbage bags, washroom supplies, barbecue-related supplies and utensils, and other consumable costs have increased.

• Higher operating costs: Fuel, waste handling, grounds maintenance and other facility operating costs have also increased.

• Property damage: CSRA has experienced damage to picnic tables and other amenities, including heat and burn damage associated with portable barbecues, resulting in additional repair and replacement costs.

• Conduct and incident management: On occasion, situations involving inappropriate or abusive behaviour require additional staff or management intervention, investigation, documentation and incident reporting. Serious situations may also require security or police involvement.

 

Does the $25 Fee Cover All of These Costs?

No.

The $25 fee does not represent the full cost of administering and supporting a group booking.

When administration, staffing, preparation, supplies, cleanup, waste handling, facility and grounds maintenance, incident management and occasional repairs are considered, the cost associated with supporting group bookings can be considerably higher.

The $25 fee is therefore intended only as a modest contribution toward these additional costs.

Costs not recovered through the booking fee continue to be absorbed through CSRA's overall operating budget and, ultimately, the annual lake fees paid by Coral Springs homeowners.

 

Why Shouldn't These Costs Simply Be Included in Everyone's Lake Fees?

All residents contribute through their annual lake fees to the operation and maintenance of CSRA facilities and amenities.

However, group bookings create additional costs beyond normal individual or family use. Not every household makes group bookings.

The $25 fee helps reduce the extent to which homeowners who do not use the group booking program subsidize the additional costs associated with private group gatherings.

 

Why Is the Booking Fee Non-Refundable?

Once a booking is confirmed, administrative work has already occurred and the booking time has been reserved. Staffing and other operational resources may also be planned around confirmed bookings.

CSRA therefore applies a consistent cancellation policy rather than attempting to determine which individual personal circumstances should or should not qualify for a refund.

Where a booking cannot reasonably proceed due to inclement weather or CSRA cancels the booking, the booking fee may be refunded in accordance with CSRA's Group Booking Rules.

 

Why Was This Introduced in 2026?

The $25 group booking fee is new for 2026.

Group bookings had previously been offered without a separate booking fee. As CSRA reviewed its operations, costs and recurring issues associated with larger gatherings, it became apparent that additional measures were needed to help offset these expenses and encourage greater accountability for confirmed bookings.

CSRA has also reviewed practices at comparable lake communities where fees are charged for group bookings, picnic-area reservations or facility rentals.

The introduction of the $25 fee is part of CSRA's broader effort to modernize its Rules & Regulations, improve consistency, manage operating costs responsibly and maintain fair access to community amenities.

 

Our Goal

The purpose of the $25 fee is not to generate a profit from group bookings or discourage residents from enjoying CSRA facilities.

Our goal is simple:

Keep group bookings available and affordable, encourage responsible use, recover a small portion of the additional costs they create, and ensure those costs are shared more fairly.

CSRA welcomes respectful feedback, suggestions and questions regarding our facilities, policies and operations. Residents are encouraged to contact CSRA Management through the appropriate communication channels if they have concerns or suggestions for improvement.

For complete requirements or to make a booking, please visit:

Group Bookings — Rules, Guest Policies & Booking Information