Maymont to charge admission for Nature Center exhibits

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: June 26, 2009

Maymont, the popular Richmond park, announced today that effective July 7 it will charge an admission fee for its Nature Center exhibits.

The fees will be $2 for children ages 4 to 12 and seniors ages 60 and older; $3 for those aged 13 to 59 and free for children under the age of 4.

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. Its public hours currently are from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

"In the current global recession, Maymont is facing a serious budgetary challenge due to decreases in contributed and earned income, government support and endowment," said Norman burns, executive director of the Maymont Foundation, which manages the 100-acre property for the city.

"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.

"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.

In April the park closed its Nature Center on Mondays to reduce expenses amid sagging donations and budget cuts.

Until then, the Nature Center, which doubles as a visitors and information center, had been open on Mondays on a limited basis.

The exhibits, including tanks stocked with fish, turtles and otters, had been open on Mondays only to the park's 2,000 members, but the building was open to the public and offered restrooms and access to the grounds.

The city of Richmond owns Maymont's property, but the private, nonprofit Maymont Foundation is responsible for the park's operation and maintenance.

Earlier this year the foundation closed its gift shop, eliminated one filled full-time position, freezed hiring and ordered its staff to take three furlough days by the end of June.