Royal Botanical Gardens wants to see more paying visitors

The plan is intended to address a need for more indoor space and increase the number of paying visitors — while maintaining RBG’s commitment to protecting its natural areas and gardens.

“Our attendance is underperforming, compared to other botanical gardens,” Rowland said.

She presented data stating the RBG had 387,104 paid visitors, including members and nonmembers, last year, with a catchment area population of approximately 9.9 million people around the Golden Horseshoe, from Oshawa to Niagara to London.

That was compared to 1.2 million paid visitors to Chicago Botanic Garden with a catchment area of 8.9 million people, 1.4 million visitors to Denver Botanic Gardens with a catchment area of 8 million and Montreal Botanical Garden’s 780,000 visitors in a 4.1 million catchment area.

“The question is why?” Rowland said, suggesting it could be price points, lack of awareness of the gardens and its programs, or other factors. “It gives us pause.”

After the town hall, RBG spokesperson Cassandra Doria said the organization’s target is 1.2 million annual visitors — which would be an increase of approximately 812,800 people a year. There is no specific timeline to reach that goal.

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• Dec 31, 1969
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• Dec 31, 1969
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“We are aware that this will not be achieved overnight,” Doria said.

The largest botanical garden in the country and a national historic site, RBG has 2,700 acres of environmentally-sensitive areas, including 2,400 acres of nature sanctuaries, 300 acres of cultivated gardens and an arboretum.

Rowland said the multi-year plan now being developed with a team of consultants will include the goals of becoming a centre of excellence for the RBG’s conservation, preservation and science work, while developing as a cultural hub with public experiences, programs, gardens, displays and nature trails.

“We need more space indoors,” Rowland said, noting other botanical gardens around the world benefit from indoor spaces year-round.

She said the master plan will include “a continuous 33-acre area,” including the RBG Centre and Hendrie Park, and “link those experiences more seamlessly.”

Rowland said the RBG will not overdevelop its green spaces. And several archeological assessments are currently underway to determine additional areas that can’t be developed.

Further information of what changes might be made at the RBG Centre and Hendrie Park, and where additional indoor space might be located, was not available.

“We are unable to share such details at this time,” Doria said after the town hall. “Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.”

She said the firms contracted by RBG will provide recommendations on how to enhance RBG’s identity, but the organization has not yet received those recommendations so can’t state what its next steps will be.

“At the heart of this plan is the critical need to nurture and protect our ecosystems. While the need to achieve financial sustainability is clear, RBG exists to affect real and positive change in how humanity interacts with our environment,” Doria said.

“We can ensure that protected lands will remain treated as such, and we are not anticipating losing any garden space that we know is extremely important to not only the native species that call our property home, but to our members, donors and community as a whole.”

Doria said RBG’s goal is to build its financial strength and independence in order to serve the future, and enhance infrastructure and amenities while appealing to new diverse audiences from local, national and international markets.