Arboretum

Arboretum Mapping and Tree Labeling

Since the last mapping of the Arboretum in 1995, several damaging storms have significantly altered the population of trees. Other trees have died from old age issues. On the positive side, individuals have donated commemorative trees, honorary Arbor Day trees have been planted yearly and foundations have paid for large-scale replacements and additions within groves.

Kansas City Community tree lovers with ID and tree health expertise have formed a committee. We meet late each Spring after leaf-out to first identify and then order labels for healthy existing trees. Our committee notes will eventually contribute to an updated formal remapping of the Arboretum. The labeled trees within groves of similar species or mixed species are featured in the self-guided GCA Tree Walks. Tree walk brochures are available outside the Visitor Center.


Volunteering to Help


Eagle Scout candidates and others seeking community service hours can contact us for help and advice in designing an arboretum project whch should include, but not necessarily be limited to, correct installation of the labels. Projects can also include tree mapping, historical and botanical research, graphics and brochure design, educational events to promote the family of self guided tree walks.

For more information email info@gardencenterassociation.org


The Stanley R. McLane Arboretum at Jacob L. Loose Park

In 1929 S. Herbert Hare, landscape architect for the nationally recognized landscape architectural firm of Hare& Hare, assisted the park board with the design of Loose Park. He planned a conservatory, surrounded by gardens and paths, as the focal point.

In 1947 Hare & Hare prepared plans for an arboretum to include 13 varieties of oaks, lindens, buckeyes, and black walnuts; 10 species of maples; and 6 varieties of ash.

In 1980, the park was designated an arboretum and named in honor of Stanley R. McLane. He served for forty-four years as landscape supervisor for the J.C. Nichols Co. McLane played a guiding role in the beautiful landscaping which characterized the widespread residential neighborhoods of the Country Club District of Kansas City for which it is renowned. Trees were both his profession and his passion. As a community service, he once identified and tagged all the trees in Loose Park and compiled a list of other trees not present there but, in his opinion, were desirable to be included in future plantings.

At this time the GCA began adding 450 species of trees to the arboretum and providing the funds to maintain them. Today, there are more than 1,100 trees in the park. Many of these trees have been planted in honor of friends or loved ones.