Oaklands Park now an arboretum

Oaklands Park in Murfreesboro is the state's newest certified arboretum. The Tennessee Urban Forestry Council announced that Oaklands was added to the list as the TUFC gathered for its 25th annual conference at the Rutherford County Extension Office in Murfreesboro October 6-7.

"The City of Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department, Oaklands Historic House Museum and the City Urban Environmental Department are delighted to learn that Oaklands Park has received certification as a Tennessee arboreta," said Interim Parks & Recreation Director Angela Jackson. "This recognition is the result of a strong public-private partnership and the hard work of Oaklands Mansion and the City Parks landscaping team."

The mansion and visitor center is operated by Oaklands Historic House Museum. Oaklands Park is operated and maintained by the City of Murfreesboro.

TUFC coordinates the Arboretum Certification Program to set and enforce standards for public education by state arboreta. The program has certified more than 100 sites ranging from a neighborhood school with 30 different species of labeled trees to a research park with over 120 tree species and full-time employees and volunteers.

In a letter to Connor Moss at Oaklands Historic House Museum, TUFC Arboretum Certification Coordinator Jill Smith extended congratulations on behalf of the Certification Program Committee.

"Having a Level I Certified Arboretum represents a great accomplishment for Oaklands Park and Mansion, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation, the city of Murfreesboro, and the state of

Tennessee," said Smith, "Visitors for years to come will have a wonderful opportunity to learn about trees, enjoy their beauty and appreciate their many differences while enjoying this beautiful park."

"The Urban Environmental Department is proud of the work we performed in tree pruning and other preservation measures in order to have the Oaklands grounds certified as an arboretum," said Urban Environmental Department Assistant Director Kane L. Adams. "We routinely spend time beautifying the landscape with preventive tree pruning and maintenance beyond what was required for certification."

The historic grounds surrounding Oaklands Historic House Museum in Murfreesboro is a location filled with Old South history and a source of community pride where the story of Middle Tennessee prosperity and the Civil War is shared with almost 15,000 visitors each year.

"Preserving and maintaining the cultural and natural landscape at Oaklands is one of our top priorities," added Jackson. "We recognize that this historic place is not only a significant piece of Middle Tennessee history but an important legacy for visitors and future generations to enjoy."

Guidelines define an arboretum as an area with a significant amount of woody vegetation in a tree form that is cultivated for education, scientific, or aesthetic purposes. A certified arboretum must be open to the public, the trees must be properly labeled for educational purposes, and they must be properly protected and maintained.

For a list of certified arboreta in Tennessee, visit the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council website at http://www.tufc.com/arboreta.html.