The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is strapped for cash. Now facing millions of dollars in much-needed repairs, the iconic cultural center is considering a controversial new move: charging an entrance fee.
Nothing's decided yet. There's a push to raise more private donations and the Fort Worth City Council is considering throwing in more funding.
But the gardens are 80 years old and the needs are huge. Right at the front entrance, is a fountain that stopped running years ago, and it will take a serious boost to get things flowing again.
On a sunny afternoon, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden looks like a scene from Monet. Children play on winding paths, surrounded by flowers. But just like an Impressionist painting, up close you can see the flaws.
"Some of them are very pressing," said Director Bob Byers.
Here a rusted air conditioner, there a fountain run dry. The conservatory is now closed because glass panels started dropping from the ceiling.
"That comes down to little tiny screws that have corroded on us," said Byers, adding that the screws alone could cost $50,000 to replace.
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"And the garden is full of little small things like that that you don't see, but that have a really big impact on the operations," Byers added.
All told, the Botanic Garden is facing up to $15 million in overdue repairs.
On top of that, Byers said, "We're about a million-and-a-half short annually on what we need just to maintain what we already have."
Something has to change and it may be adding a general admission fee. Consultants recommend $7 to $9, but garden administrators hope to keep it lower.
"I would be really sad about that, probably would rethink as often as we come up here," said visitor Dana Cloud.
Administrators are searching for any other option, starting with a survey to learn more about their visitors.
"Who's really coming, how long they stay," said Byers.
"I probably come once a year, once every other year," said visitor Karina Anderson
"Maybe 10 times a year," added Cloud.
Now, Botanic Garden backers hope to boost those numbers and add to memberships and donations to keep the gardens going for more picture-perfect days.
There are lots of steps before any entrance fee would kick in, including approval from city council.
Byers says they would do things to keep it affordable like discounts for kids and seniors and free passes at local community centers.
But he believes it would be fairer to have people who use the gardens pay for them, rather than asking more from the whole tax base, through increased city council funding.
