http://byrdpark.net/2009/06/28/nature-center-admission-no-longer-free-after-july-7/ A community news site covering the Byrd Park and surrounding areas of Richmond, Virginia. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:27:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://byrdpark.net/2009/06/28/nature-center-admission-no-longer-free-after-july-7/comment-page-1/#comment-138 Carla Murray Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:57:44 +0000 http://byrdpark.net/?p=247#comment-138 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. 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.

]]> http://byrdpark.net/2009/06/28/nature-center-admission-no-longer-free-after-july-7/comment-page-1/#comment-137 paul_h Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:54:57 +0000 http://byrdpark.net/?p=247#comment-137 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. 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.

]]> http://byrdpark.net/2009/06/28/nature-center-admission-no-longer-free-after-july-7/comment-page-1/#comment-135 Jason G. Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:31:10 +0000 http://byrdpark.net/?p=247#comment-135 Is there still a membership discount for Byrd Park Civic League members? Is there still a membership discount for Byrd Park Civic League members?

]]> http://byrdpark.net/2009/06/28/nature-center-admission-no-longer-free-after-july-7/comment-page-1/#comment-134 Sarah W. Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:32:43 +0000 http://byrdpark.net/?p=247#comment-134 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. 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.

]]> http://byrdpark.net/2009/06/28/nature-center-admission-no-longer-free-after-july-7/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Sue Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:12:54 +0000 http://byrdpark.net/?p=247#comment-113 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. 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.

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