The Garfield Park Conservatory is introducing admissions fees for people who live outside Chicago starting this month.
Starting Oct. 16, people who do not reside in Chicago will be charged an entrance fee to the conservatory, with prices depending on age. Non-resident adults will be charged $10, while children 7-17 will get in for $5 and kids younger than 7 will be admitted for free, according to an announcement.
College students and people 65 and older will be charged $5.
The conservatory was previously free for all. Chicago residents will still get into the taxpayer-funded conservatory for free.
The entrance fees were instituted to keep up with operating costs tied to an increase in attendance, according to the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, the nonprofit organization that works with the Park District to provide programs at the botanical gardens.
“This is great news for Chicagoans and for the Garfield Park community,” according to a Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance news release. “Chicagoans will no longer be 100 percent responsible for supplementing the care and upkeep of the Conservatory through their tax dollars.”
Non-Chicagoans who receive state food assistance will not be charged for entry. Illinois teachers and Illinois public school field trips will also enter for free, as will active military members and veterans.
Conservatory staff recommend people get reservations when visiting. Same-day reservations are prioritized for West Side residents and members.
The conservatory — which opened in 1908 —features an outdoor garden, horticulture hall and greenhouses housing tropical plants. The conservatory’s children garden is closed for renovations, as it raised nearly $10 million as of August for the overhaul of the 6,000-square-foot indoor area.
Conservatory programs are offered for all ages and includes introductory botanist classes, “ask a master gardener” sessions and virtual yoga.
“We have been working in partnership with the Chicago Park District to implement this change to help with increased operational and maintenance costs due to our rise in attendance,” according to the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance. “In 2023, we welcomed over 325,000 visitors! This is a 25 percent increase over pre-pandemic visitor traffic and shows us the demand is high for connecting with nature across our 12 acres of indoor and outdoor gardens in Garfield Park.”
Financial statements for the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance show fiscal year-end expenses of $2.3 million for 2023 against nearly $3.5 million in revenue plus donor support.
Garfield Park Conservatory nor Park District officials were able to be reached for comment.
More information on visiting the Garfield Park Conservatory is at garfieldconservatory.org.