June 28, 2009
Nature center admission no longer free after July 7
5 Comments »Here’s the news release:
MAYMONT TO CHARGE ADMISSION FEE FOR NATURE CENTER EXHIBITS
Effective July 7, 2009, there will be a nominal fee to enter Maymont’s Nature Center exhibits. Fees will be $2 for children ages 4-12 and seniors ages 60 and older; $3 for youth and adults ages 13 to 59; and free for kids under 4 years old. Admission will remain free for Maymont members. The Nature Center exhibits will be open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. (Current public hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m.)
The money raised from admission fees will help generate revenue to provide for the continued care of Maymont’s animals and to support operating costs that ensure Maymont will be around for future generations to enjoy.
“In the current global recession, Maymont is facing a serious budgetary challenge due to decreases in contributed and earned income, government support and endowment. At the same time, more and more people are visiting the park because it is free, but increased visitation adds additional costs to our strained resources,” Norman Burns, Maymont Foundation Executive Director, explained. “The small fee will help to offset some of those costs as Maymont continues to serve as a harbor of hope and diversion for those facing this current economic storm.”
Although Maymont property is owned by the city of Richmond, there is a misconception that it is a “city park” fully-funded through government support. However, since 1975, the private nonprofit Maymont Foundation has been entirely responsible for the park’s operation, maintenance and restoration with only minimal city funding each year. The Foundation must raise more than $3 million each year – or more than 80% of its operating budget – to keep the park open to the public 365 days a year. The Foundation has taken aggressive action to cut operational costs, resulting in reduced overhead and staff, closing the Nature Center on Mondays, closing the Gift Shop and implementing furlough days.
There are several ways supporters can help – through Maymont memberships, tax-deductible donations, corporate matching gift programs, attending Maymont programs, or celebrating special events at the park. For more information, contact Maymont at 804-358-7166, ext. 310.
It’s worth the $3 for sure. I just might have to look into getting a membership though – especially since it’s so close to home.
The Dooley’s left their estate to the city of Richmond with the stipulation being that Maymont would always be free to those who visited. I wonder how the Foundation got around this with a fee for the nature center.
In the end, Maymont is a city park and the people of the city could be on the hook for any costs of operation or costs for future development and operation of Maymont. Citizens should be very mindful of this as Maymont seeks to build more facilities.
Is there still a membership discount for Byrd Park Civic League members?
The city owns Lewis Ginter as well, which charges an admission fee just to come on the grounds. Maymont is still free and open to the public and one of Richmond’s great treasures.
Maymont is owned by the City of Richmond, but since 1975 the Maymont Foundation has managed, maintained, improved and operated Maymont on behalf of City through a management agreement. This agreement allows the Foundation to impose reasonable restrictions as it deems necessary or desirable including the right to establish opening and closing hours of the park and exhibits. And while the agreement says the Foundation shall make no charge for admission to the park generally nor to any facility existing on the date of the original agreement, it may, at its discretion, collect reasonable fees for admission to any new facilities constructed by it with its own funds or to any facility which has been substantially renovated by the Foundation. The Foundation could have charged admission at the Nature Center when it first opened and is now doing so to help offset increasing operation costs, programs and further renovation of exhibits. Today, it costs nearly $10,000 a day to open the gates, and government funding pays for less than 20% of Maymont’s annual fiscal needs.