Council approves $10M for new gardens at Assiniboine Park amid concerns about access, transparency

City council has formalized Winnipeg's financialcontribution to AssiniboinePark's new gardens and plant conservatory amid concerns about the future cost of admission and the transparency of the agency that runs the park.

Council voted 11-5 on Wednesday to approve a previously announced$10-million commitment to Canada's Diversity Gardens, a $75-million project that encompasses both outdoor gardens at Assiniboine Park and a replacement for the aging conservatory.

"It's a celebration of plants andbiodiversity," saidBruceKeats, chief operations officer for theAssiniboinePark Conservancy, the non-profit agency that runs the park.

"This development will be a horticultural showcase for not only the City of Winnipegand the Province of Manitoba, but in Canada and certainly in North America."

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The development plan for the gardens also calls for the province to contribute $15 million,$35 million from the federal government and $15 million from private donors. The total project cost increased by 50 per cent since it was envisioned in 2010.

Although the conservancy is not asking the city to commit any additional funding, Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) raised concerns on the floor of council about therising price tag for the project, continuing city contributions to the conservancy and the confidential nature of the business plan for the gardens.

"I don't really sense or believe that the business plan should be kept confidential. Ithink it deserves to be both analyzed and an analyis brought back to council," said Wyatt, who failed to persuade his council colleagues to demand more information from the conservancy.

Keats said an executive summary of the business plan was presented to all members of council, but only city administrators have seen the full document.

Wyatt also raised concerns about the future cost of admission to the new indoor facility. Keats estimated admission will be somewhere in the vicinity of $10 for adults and $5 for kids, with package deals for people who take out memberships with both the AssiniboinePark Zoo and the new gardens.

Along withWyatt, Couns. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan), Shawn Dobson (St. Charles) Ross Eadie (Mynarski), JasonSchreyer (Elmwood-EastKildonan) voted againstthe city funding for the gardens.