New fee at conservatory

by Stephen Miller, Editor
- The Capitol Hill Times -

A new $4 entrance fee is estimated to bring in $104,000 annually and keep the Volunteer Park Conservatory running. Angela Nickerson / The Capitol Hill Times

As of Feb. 1, visits to the Volunteer Park Conservatory require a $4 fee.

Seattle Parks and Recreation installed fee machines in the historic Olmstead park after a consultant submitted a series of recommendations the city hoped would help keep the park open after a year of uncertainty.

Entry fees are expected to generate about $104,000 annually, about a quarter of the conservatory’s operating budget, and – combined with funding set aside in the city budget and income from donations, events, classes and products – will help pay for the facility and horticulture collection.

The Friends of the Conservatory also plan to raise more revenue from renting out space in the greenhouse for weddings, which pending a capacity decision could hold as many as 30 guests, said Senior Gardener David Helgeson. He has already cleared the center of the east wing of the main greenhouse to accommodate movable plant containers that can be pushed aside to make space for events.