What's Happening in Dallas, TX…

As of December 15, the cost to park at the Dallas Arboretum has increased by $5

On Thursday, December 11 the Dallas Park and Recreation Board approved new parking rates that increased the regular parking pass from $10 to $15. Pre-purchased passes, while still less expensive, went up by $5 as well. Formerly $3, they are now $8. Arboretum members will still park free of charge.

Additional revenue from the raise in parking fees, anticipated to be $580,000 a year, will be used to pay off debt incurred from the new $30m parking facility across the road from the arboretum.

This recent parking raise was the second in two years; the earlier one was a $3 increase. Several board members, expressing a concern that the popular attraction might become too costly for some members of the community with this latest increase, suggested an increase in free passes.

While previously the arboretum had provided the city with 15,000 free passes to distribute at city rec centers, that number will be increasing over the next two years to 25,000 per year. Unlike past free passes, the new ones are to include free parking.

Fundraisers by nonprofits like the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens require a variety of advertising methods, including direct mailings provided by a local graphic design or printing company.