Oneida Park to become Arboretum
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Oneida Park to become Arboretum
By Shane Gilreath
[email protected]
Oneida City Park may soon take another step toward growth and community development. The park, according to Oneida Community Development Director Virginia Bruce, might well hold a new name:arboretum. Bruce told SCN on Thursday that the town has applied for the park to be formally recognized with the distinction, a designation that would highlight the park’s growing diversity of tree species and its role in community education.
“There are 33 trees that we’re going to tag,” Bruce told SCN. Each tag will display information such as the tree’s common and scientific names. These tags, which have been ordered and are ready to be placed – upon approval – are essential tools for identifying and cataloging plants, helping visitors learn more about the natural environment while maintaining the integrity of the park’s collection.
While the park itself is not expected to change and will continue to be fully utilized by the community, its distinction as an arboretum also makes it a living museum of trees, a space dedicated to the cultivation, study, and enjoyment of woody plants, which may invite an all new demographic of tourist to Scott County. Across the country, many public parks have chosen this route, offering both beauty and educational value. They serve as outdoor classrooms for students, training grounds for horticultural enthusiasts, and tranquil spaces for residents to enjoy nature. According to Bruce, the park will also house a multitude of native trees.
“The City plans to take out the Bradford Pear trees. They’re invasive,” Bruce explained, of the popular trees that originated in East Asia, particularly China and Korea. Removing non-native, invasive species will help the many native trees, which Bruce has ordered, thrive and promote biodiversity within the park.
Native trees expected to be added include two varieties of red maples, American Lindon trees, Carolina Silverbells, Sourwood, Serviceberry trees, Kentucky Coffee Trees, and others.
Once established, the arboretum will provide opportunities for nature walks, botanical school trips, and educational enrichment, perpetuating the community’s devotion to preserving its natural heritage and for generations to come.
