A debate is brewing over a proposal to charge fitness instructors who conduct workout sessions in the City of Austin's public parks.

Proponents say other vendors already pay similar fees, but opponents say it'll discourage outdoor fitness.

As a personal trainer, Cody Butler meets his clients at different city parks. He says the parks provide the perfect backdrop for a rigorous workout.

But a proposal that City Council members are being asked to consider would require instructors to pay a $500 fee for conducting any kind of class in a public park.

"It's a really hard concept to swallow paying $500 a year to bring our camps out into public parks," said Butler.

Even though the city faces a $20 to $37 million budget shortfall, Stuart Strong, acting parks director, says it's not just about the revenue.

"We already require a fee from other private businesses that operate on parkland, and we want to say we're doing the same for all of them," he said.

But Butler says the fee will force some instructors to charge higher rates, which may in turn mean fewer people will be working out.

He says free use of the park helps keep fitness instruction costs down.

"And I think it's a great thing of what we're trying to do as yoga instructor, personal trainer, whatnot, to be able to provide services that are cost effective for us and cost effective for the community," said Butler.

But Strong says for instructors who register and pay the fee, it could bring more paying clients their way.

"If somebody calls and says, 'Where can I get a physical fitness training class?' or 'Where would I find one in Zilker Park?', we can help them out in that sense,” said Strong.

The public will have a chance to provide input on the park fee proposal when it is considered by council members between now and September when the budget is adopted. If approved, it would take effect in October.