KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — People visiting the Ijams Nature Center will now need to pay to park after the nonprofit's new program went into effect on Monday.
Parking signs were placed over the weekend, explaining how people can pay for parking. The process involves scanning a QR code and paying for a certain amount of time to park a car. Ijams Nature Center announced the change earlier in the year and said it would help fund parking lot improvements and renovations around the center.
It costs $5 per day to park at the center, and people who don't want to use the QR code can also pay at the visitor center. The fee is also per vehicle, instead of per person. Volunteers at the center, as well as members, can also park for free.
Membership levels start at $10 per year, Ijams said. Annual parking passes are also available for $50. Members should make sure to leave a hangtag in their vehicle where it can be seen. The hangtag should have been received in the mail.
"Only 9% of Ijams' annual operating budget comes from government funding. Unlike most nonprofit nature centers, Ijams has never charged an entry fee, relying instead on the support of incredibly generous members and donations," Ijams said on social media about the change.
It also said out of the total number of visitors to the nature center, only around 0.2% are members and donors.
"Parking fee revenue will help create an equal distribution of support among all users, and visitors from outside Knoxville, Knox County, and East Tennessee will help protect and maintain Ijams," the nonprofit said on social media.