Am I wrong to be upset? I must be because I seem to be the only one.
My community has a lovely botanical garden and arboretum. McCrory Gardens was established by South Dakota State University in 1966 as a teaching and research facility.
The Gardens have grown to 70 acres of trees and flowers and since the first have been completely open to the public.
For nearly 50 years people could wander through at will. They could enter and exit the gardens at any point and stay for as long as they liked. There has always been a modest charge for events like weddings.
With this freedom came the inevitable vandalism. The split rail fence around part of the Gardens didn't keep people from riding horses or ATVs through the flowers. Regrettable, indeed, but neither did it keep pedestrians from crossing.
Founded by the state and owned by the state, maintenance and expansion of the Gardens have since 1986 been funded through private donations. The cost of membership in the Friends of McCrory is modest -- #30/individual. There is also a free will donation box at the former main entrance.
Over the past few years funds were raised to build a very nice Education and Visitors Center with facilities to hold events. The parking area at the old entrance was closed to funnel visitors through the new center.
I could see the logic in that though I knew it was just the first step. A "decorative" fence is now going up around the entire garden. Not split rail but 6-foot wrought iron. And we also have "suggested" admission prices. Again, these are modest -- $6/adult.
These changes were at the recommendation of some consultant.
Over the years I've spent many happy hours at McCrory. As have thousands of others. It's been a part of my life. Am I wrong to be upset? Everyone tells me, "It's not much money." Or "But they're going to have free days, too." Should I just suck it up because as one of my Facebook friends put it, "We have been spoiled for decades because it has been like our own fabulous city park."
Anecdotally, since the old parking area was closed I've seen fewer people in the Gardens when I drive past. The fence will restrict access as will the admission fee. I'm forced to conclude that restricted access is the goal as funding and vandalism deterrence could be achieved in other less restrictive ways. There will continue to be beautiful gardens but fewer people will enjoy them.
It's a done deal. I don't like it and I'm railing against fate. But for me the bottom line is that the area has been in all ways a public space for nearly 50 years and now it will be so in name only.
Below is my letter to the editor of our local newspaper.
And so, the fence goes in.
What has, for nearly half a century, been an open and public space will now become closed and accessible via fee with nary a whimper of dissent.
In the four decades that I’ve been a Brookings resident I’ve visited McCrory Gardens numerous times each summer. Quick walk throughs. Long meandering photo safaris. It’s been at the top of my list to entertain out-of-town visitors. I took my kids when they were little and one of our daughters got married at McCrory. I take my grandkids. They love the rock garden where they clamber around like little mountain goats and the big willows where they find cicada husks.
I recommended a visit to McCrory to anyone asking about Brookings. Even my online friends who will never grace our community with a visit have heard me extol the Gardens. The City of Brookings features McCory Gardens on its website as does South Dakota Glacial Lakes and Prairies. Trip, vacation, and wedding sites rate the Gardens. Our city and its residents and businesses view McCrory Gardens, along with our schools and parks, as a major selling point for our community.
I have supported McCrory Gardens with visits, recommendations, and financial contributions (admittedly modest) for nearly 40 years.
Why the coming changes at McCrory Gardens? The fence, it is claimed, will deter vandalism that has plagued the 70-acre botanical garden and arboretum. It will also deter the casual visitor as has closing of the west parking area. To call the fence “decorative” is disingenuous at best. The split rail fence in place around parts of the Garden prevents vehicle or horse incursion but allows pedestrian traffic. Though only the posts are installed at the time of this writing it appears the new fence will be similar to the fence around the Visitor Center. It will not allow people to pass through. Does the fence prevent the one harm of vandalism, perhaps preventable through other methods, by inflicting what I consider the greater harm of limiting access?
Now to the issue of admission fee. This South Dakota State University property is owned by every taxpayer in the state and has functioned as a public space since its creation in 1966. The Garden’s establishment, expansion, improvements, and maintenance are funded by the state and private donations. Adequately funded? Perhaps not. Is the admission fee a response to inadequate funding? Let’s think about that. The City and its businesses use McCrory Gardens as a recruitment tool. Have these entities been approached for assistance or sponsorship?
What revenue might be generated by charging admission? Fifty paid visitors per day (generous estimate?) at $10 per visitor (McCrory recommends $6/adult) for 365 days (Hey, it’s South Dakota. You know that number is inflated) nets $182,500. At that rate, how long before the fence is paid for? Is our previously open and public space worth so little? It appears clear to me that admission fees will not prove a generous revenue stream.
If options exist to enhance security and increase revenue without limiting access why is restricted access the option implemented? Or is restricted access the end goal with security and revenue merely convenient justifications?
Leaving aside the promise of “free” days, I cannot support actions that essentially privatize (albeit publicly-owned) a traditionally public space. Due to these actions and to the institutional ethos that allowed them to advance and come to fruition, I can no longer support McCrory Gardens.
Goodbye, dear friend. I miss you already.