Brian Vogt, Colorado's former economic development director, is set to take over as CEO of the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Among his challenges: Finding roughly $25 million to pay for upgrades to the aging grounds and lifting sagging membership rolls.

"I intend to roll up my sleeves and go after some major corporate and foundation fundraising," said Vogt, who starts in April.

The Botanic Gardens for years has tried to figure out how to fund an effort to replace a decades-old irrigation system, fix up the greenhouses and repair the conservatory. Attempts to ask voters for help in paying the bill have failed.

The problem remains, and other cultural sites in Denver are hoping for financial assistance, too, making the task tougher.

"It's an urgent need," said Vogt, who first visited the Denver gardens as an elementary school student in the 1960s.

The idea of issuing bonds is still on the table, the group said.

Getting people to join the Botanic Gardens, located at 1005 York St. and with an annual budget of more than $9.1 million, is another priority.

Membership fell 9 percent to 16,855 in 2006 after a 5 percent decline in the previous year, according to data from the group.

While that figure has dipped, attendance rose last year, fueled partly by an exhibit by sculptor Robert Wick and new Asian and Mother's Day events, officials said.

Corporate donations also climbed in 2005, giving Vogt another positive trend to build on (the 2006 figure is not available).

Vogt also will try to bring some stability to an organization that has had a lot of turnover.

Citing health issues, John Scully said last year he was resigning as chief executive less than 2 1/2 years after taking the job. His exit followed other managers' departures.

Vogt said he will make more than the $156,000 he earned working for Gov. Bill Owens, though he said pay for his new gig still was being ironed out. He said part of his compensation package will be in the form of performance-based bonuses.

Denver Botanic Gardens officials said they didn't know how much Vogt will be paid this year.

Vogt had started a consulting company after leaving the governor's office but scrapped that plan after rising to the top of hundreds of résumés and being offered the Gardens position - what he called "one of the greatest jobs in Colorado."

Vogt said he'll focus on raising money to pay for the infrastructure improvements and for various projects and outreach.

"You have to look to the future and in addition to taking care of your current ground, blaze new ground as well," he said.

patonj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2544