10:45 PM PDT on Thursday, October 7, 2004

KING5.com

Visit a Seattle park in the near future and you may have to pay for parking, or as much as $5 for admission.

The parks proposal discussed at public hearing at the Mt. Zion Baptist church Thursday night was just one of the budget issues that brought out angry residents.

Some said they feel their taxes should already pay for parks and they shouldn't have to pay again.

The Volunteer Park Conservatory is one of the jewels of the Seattle park system. Viewing its rare and beautiful plants is currently free to the public.

But to help offset a lack of funds in the Parks Department, the mayor has proposed a $5 admission fee starting next year.

"It's nice but for five bucks, you can walk around the outside of it and see a lot of flowers for free," park visitor David Leen said.

The conservatory is just part of a proposal that would also charge for parking at Lincoln, Greenlake, McCurdy and Seward parks. At the same time, the budget proposal calls for cutting funds for maintenance, athletic fields, and environmental programs.

"By putting parking meters and charges, it's just going to increase traffic congestion in surrounding neighborhoods," one person testified.

"The books and the parks should be available for all of us," said Alexa Albert.

Albert said she spoke after her 4-year-old daughter asked why the mayor was making it harder to go to the parks.

"It's a family based city and if you want to lose that reputation, start making all of the places that families use harder to access."

Council members admit social programs for people will be their first priority, but the response from the public has moved parks higher up on their list.

"We are definitely concerned about having our parks accessible for all, and we'll definitely do our best to try to avoid those fees," City Council member Tom Rasmussen said.

The head of the parks department said without the funds they will generate from parking fees... they may have to shut down the conservatory all together.