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Iams Nature Center leaders defend new parking fee as membership and maintenance lifeline
Summary
Amber Parker, CEO of Iams Nature Center, told Knox County commissioners the center adopted a QR-based parking fee (launched Feb. 19) to support staff, outreach, maintenance and rising visitor use; board and longtime volunteers testified in favor, while commissioners pressed for clarity on enforcement and volunteer exemptions.
Amber Parker, chief executive officer of Iams Nature Center, told the Knox County Board of Commissioners on March 18 that the nonprofit has begun charging for parking to create a sustainable revenue stream for operations and capital upkeep.
Parker said Iams — which manages a mix of property owned by Knox County, the City of Knoxville and the nonprofit — has grown from an estimated 100,000 annual visitors in 2001 to about 616,000 a year based on recent cell‑phone pings. She told commissioners the center now manages roughly 318 acres and runs a range of programs that require paid staff and reliable maintenance.
"We had to create sustainable ways for more people to support the mission," Parker said, explaining the board approved a QR‑code payment system that charges $5 per car per day or $50 per year for a parking pass; members park free. She said the center also offers a low‑cost…
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