The Vision in Green

Jon Jacobson, ASLA

April 17, 2009

Arboretum Defined:

- A collection of trees.

- Tree cultivation area planted with many types of trees for study, display and preservation.

- A place where trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes.

MJWA Collection:

- The primary focus will be well adapted deciduous and coniferous woody plant materials which include trees, shrubs and vines. The arboretum will also include actively managed native plant communities and limited herbaceous plants.

Background:

- Public/private partnership between the Wegner Arboretum Society, the City of Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County.

- Major lead gift provided by the Wegner Family.

- Managed by the Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation Department.

- Supported by the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce for the current community fund drive. Additional construction dollars are appropriated in the current City of Sioux Falls Capital Improvement Plan.

SIOUX FALLS

BRANDON

ARBORETUM SITE

(East Sioux Falls)

Why:• Isn’t it obvious? Trees are very cool.

• Former East Sioux Falls town site contains significant cultural resources (quarries, stone cutting areas, old rail lines, building foundations) and open space along the Big Sioux River and Quartzite Bluff.

• Total site will be approximately 115 acres in size (including Perry Nature Area).

• Relationship to existing Arrowhead Park (old quarry site) & ‘Green’ entry into Sioux Falls.

• Will be connected to the future bike trail extension and Arrowhead Park.

• The complete arboretum site will be achieved through the combination of City and County owned lands as well as the hopeful acquisition of limited privately held lands.

• Arboretum will include natural areas containing actively managed native plant communities, landscaped areas containing the tree and shrub collections and a series of gardens that recreate the historic use of plants by humans of different cultures who have lived on the site.

The City of East Sioux Falls (1887 to 1913):

- Originally set up as a company quarry town for Sioux Quartzite.

- Attracted Welsh, English and Scottish stone cutters.

- Exported paving and architectural stone to major American cities.

- Connected by electric rail to Sioux Falls.

- Population grew to 600.

- Eventually dissolved because of high cost of producing the stone.

East Sioux Falls: Circa 1890’s

East Sioux Falls: 1890

East Sioux Falls: Quartz Pavers

East Sioux Falls: Stone Crusher

Existing Perry Nature Area:

- Minnehaha County Park that will be part of the arboretum.

- 24 acres.

- Donated by Perry Family to county in 1999.

- Diverse historic elements, tree, shrub and plant types.

Perry: Quartzite Outcropping & Stream

Perry: Ice House Foundation

Perry: Stone Cutter Foundation

City of Sioux Falls Land:

- 57 acres, Entry marked with new temporary signage.

- Adjacent to Big Sioux River.

- Diverse historic elements, tree, shrub and plant types.

Temp. Edge Signage-2006

Abandoned Rail Bed/Future Bike Trail

Exposed Quartzite

Big Sioux River / Rail Abutment

Snake Hibernaculum

Arboretum Master Plan Primary Elements:

- Sustainable Design

- Schoolhouse Picnic Area.

- Festival Grounds.

- Townsite History Pavilion.

- 57 acres, Entry marked with new temporary signage.

- Trail & Bike Path System.

- Native Plant Communities.

- Cultural Gardens.

Plant Communities

Oak Savanna Plant Community

River Margin/Flood Plain Plant Community

Maple/Linden Plant Community

Native Grasses & Flowers/Sustainability

Schoolhouse/Parking/Event Parking/Park Garden

Festival Grounds

Non-Traditional Parking/Parking Run-Off

Non-Traditional Parking/Parking Run-Off

Non-Traditional Paved Parking/Parking Run-Off

Event/Temporary Parking

School House Picnic Area

“The Park” Garden

“The Park” Garden

Stone Cutter’s Cottage Garden

Plant Identification

Interpretive Signage

Bike Trail (Total)

Bike Trail (Local)

Future Bike Trail Alignment

Anticipated Construction Costs:• Phase One (2010): $1,250,000• Phase Two (2011): $818,000

• Phase Three (2012): $560,000

Total: $2,628,000

Public Fundraising Requirements:• 2010: $625,000• 2011: $409,000• 2012: $280,000

Total: $1,314,000 (50%)