Reeves-Reed Arboretum Reopens to Public

Reeves-Reed Arboretum Reopens to the Public

Summit - Reeves-Reed Arboretum has reopened! On Saturday, December 10, a dedicated group of volunteers, 30 strong, came together at the Arboretum to help the staff clear debris left over from the October snowstorm. Thanks to their efforts, the Arboretum once again welcomes the public to the grounds. Visitors are welcome to explore the Formal Gardens, the Wesson Nature Grove, and the Louise Muncie Roehm Greenhouse. However, due to ongoing storm-related safety hazards in the wooded areas, the Arboretum’s Woodland Trails remain closed for the present time. The staff continues to work to restore access to the Woodland Trails, and appreciates your understanding and patience. The clean-up to the grounds has been massive in scale with more than 25 trees being removed and damage done to more than 200. Tree triage will continue well into the winter months and deer fencing will be repaired and/or replaced. At that point the restoration of the gardens can begin.

The outpouring of support from the community has been wonderful but help is still needed. A second

clean-up effort has been scheduled for Martin Luther King Day between 9:00 AM and noon. Anyone interested in volunteering (ages 12 and up) can contact Jackie Kondel at j.kondel@reeves-reedarboretum.org or (908)273-8787 ext 1515. For anyone who is not able to volunteer but would like to make a contribution, donations to the Tree Fund can be made through the Arboretum’s website: www.reeves-reedarboreotum.org. “We are determined to bring our beautiful gardens back, and continue the mission of preserving our natural environment and developing the next generation of our planet’s stewards”, states Gayle Petty-Johnson, Executive Director. “We need both your financial support and your volunteer time.”

Reeves-Reed Arboretum is the only public garden and one of the largest green spaces in the City of Summit. It is the only arboretum in Union County.  The Arboretum seeks to engage, educate and enrich its visitors so they may become better stewards of nature and the environment. This mission is achieved through the care and utilization of an historic estate and gardens. Reeves-Reed Arboretum is listed on both the National and New Jersey Historic Registers.  For more information, please visit the website at www.reeves-reedarboretum.org.