Monday, April 26, 2010

Queens Botanical Garden now charging admission

From the Queens Chronicle:

In a move that has taken the public by surprise, the Queens Botanical Garden started charging admission to enter the Flushing grounds earlier this month, with special rates for Flushing residents.

“We are practically the last public institution to charge admission,” said QBG Executive Director Susan Lacerte. “If people care about the garden, they need to help take care of it.”

The botanical garden in Brooklyn charges $8 and the one in the Bronx costs $20 to enter.

In Flushing, the garden at 43-50 Main St. is now asking $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for students with ID and children over 3 years old. Flushing residents living in the 11354 and 11355 ZIP codes are allowed to buy a community access pass for $20 that will provide free admission through Oct. 31.

From November through March, it will be open free to all. In addition, the garden will be free to enter every Wedneday from 3 to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. As a polling place, it will also be open free on all election days.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Will they take that in Yuan.

Anonymous said...

I rather they take US currencies.. it's going to be worthless compare to the Yuan in the future.

Anonymous said...

Sure they need the money-- How much did that new Administration building cost to build?

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, their amenities and size are not on par with the other institutions either.

I regularly visit the gardens in the Bronx, and Brooklyn and even occasionally the one in Staten Island, all of which are larger, more interesting, and run more public education programs.

I avoid the one in Queens even though I live in Queens.

Anonymous said...

The QBG has the potential to be as good as its counterparts in the other boroughs.

The LEED-certified building, the stream, and expanded QBG territory, all show that it is possible.

Flower Child said...

Enough bilking of taxpayers already. They can take their tulips and kiss my ass!

Anonymous said...

The QBG has the potential to be as good as its counterparts in the other boroughs.

The LEED-certified building, the stream, and expanded QBG territory, all show that it is possible.

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Yes, but across the board, from Queens Museum, to Queens Historical Society, the instituions in Queens run last when toe to toe with similar organizations in other boroughs.

A lot of it has to do with their leadership, and the type of people with a particular mentality that borough hall favors.

Anonymous said...

In Flushing, the garden at 43-50 Main St. is now asking $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for students with ID and children over 3 years old. Flushing residents living in the 11354 and 11355 ZIP codes are allowed to buy a community access pass for $20 that will provide free admission through Oct. 31.

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Wait, is it the QUEENS garden, or the FLUSHING garden?

Why does Flushing get the discount and the rest of the borough does not???

They trying to make this no round-eye park?

stink weed said...

Susan Lacerte's $90,000 (?) a year salary has got to be paid for somehow!

Anonymous said...

In all fairness it will keep the riff-raff out.

I've sat there numerous times and watched people trying to set up picnic blankets; exhibitionist young men doing explicit butt-thrust exercises; couples fornicating in the back weeds; weirdos using it as a pick-up haven; bench sleepers; outdoor diaper changers; religious prosilitizers; bootleg DVD sellers; you name it!

This will help to put an end to it.

New York Botanical Gardens had these very same problems (plus muggings) before they introduced an admission fee.

Parks might be for a lot of things that go un-noticed by the cops but botanical gardens (if the are to grow in the future) are not.

I'll gladly pay the nominal fee to be free of the lower elements who previously frequented the grounds.

Anonymous said...

LEED certified my ass!
That equipment is so touchy it takes specialists to maintain it.

What happens when QBG's contract with these builders/maintenance engineers runs out?

Maybe it just has and the fee is to raise money to pay for the extremely expensive upkeep.

Anonymous said...

Susan Lacerte's $90,000 (?) a year salary has got to be paid for somehow!

90K?..and what does she do? I don't know but seems like the stuff she does isn't that technical or hard to get 90k.. a technical person (like a programmer) with social skills can take over her job easily.. it's nothing hard.

Anonymous said...

For the extra money I'd rather take the Q44 to a real world class botanical garden in the Bronx.

I'm not going to spend even a couple of bucks to visit a piss-stream traversed disappointment.

What happened to those great water gardens that were promised for QBG?

Where did the money go...
into the Helen Marshal Auditorium located beneath that hideous weed strewn bunker ramp?

Anonymous said...

It's about THE COST OF MAINTAINING that new administration building that's bankrupting them.

Anonymous said...

They can watch their paid attendence approach zero over time. Bronx and Brooklyn are outstanding in comparison to QBC which looks like a part of the Flusing-Corona Park that's just a bit better maintained.

Sen Toby S said...

"couples fornicating in the back weeds;"

I can't believe you saw me! And I'm not a couple. I'm just built that way!

gov. arnold schwazenegger said...

Ja! Zat vas anudder gut von! Mit der two peeble mit vun! Hahr-hahr-hahr. I'm luffing it!

Anonymous said...

Exec. Director Susan Lacerte doesn't live in Queens, or even NYC. She's a Long Island resident.

Anony2 said...

It's not even all of Flushing! What about 11358?

Anonymous said...

"90K?..and what does she do? I don't know but seems like the stuff she does isn't that technical or hard to get 90k.. a technical person (like a programmer) with social skills can take over her job easily.. it's nothing hard. "


- And all the awards shes won? She's one of the most credible people in the business. No one's gonna take her job... Shes been at the Garden for many years (95' or so as I recall), and has done great things.