The following news release was issued by the IUP Office of Media and Community Relations in March, 2002.

Oak Grove Receives Needed Pruning; Trees Trimmed for Preservation and Safety

Info Source:  Office of Media and Community Relations, Michelle Fryling, Director .  Special note:  See the GroveCam for a live view of the Oak Grove More information is available on the Allegheny Arboretum website.

Students and faculty returned from spring break this year to see the first stage in the rejuvenation of the Oak Grove.  The project marks the first step in creating the Allegheny Arboretum at IUP.

Personnel from Keystone Arbor Care of Shelocta climbed to the top of the oaks to prune.

In addition to pruning and trimming, this phase involved the removal of several unstable and or diseased trees. This work was done by a professional certified arborist and the university grounds staff. Eventually, under phase two, new trees will be planted to enhance the diversity of the trees in the grove. 

The campuswide arboretum will provide a learning environment to advance understanding of temperate forests and cultivate an appreciation for flora of the Allegheny Plateau region.

The Arboretum Board, approved by IUP President Dr. Lawrence K. Pettit in January of 2000 to oversee the project, has planned for the arboretum to encompass the entire campus.  The Arboretum Board, along with the university engineering and construction group and the university grounds staff, is developing a proposal to restore parts of the campus to their original form. 

The initial sites will concentrate on the Sutton Hall area, Old Fountain Sutton East and Flagstone Theater.  In addition to the goal to provide a diverse and well-documented collection of native plant life, the campus will host specialty gardens.

“Over the past 30 years there has been a decrease in the diversity of the woody plants on campus,” explained Dr. Jerry Pickering, IUP biology professor and chairperson of the Arboretum Board.

“A considerable portion of the inventory is marked by short-lived species prone to pests and pathogens, invasive non-native species and others that lack character and seasonal interest.  We are taking advantage of an opportunity to develop a comprehensive educational tool and beautify the campus in the process.”

Pickering also noted that the oak grove phase of the arboretum project comes at an opportune time.

“We received $5,000 from a Kiski Basin Initiative grant for maintenance of the Oak Grove, and IUP has matched that amount for a total of $10,000,” said Pickering.  “The absence of people over the coming spring break will minimize hazards and enable workers to complete the project before students and faculty return, allowing us to attend to almost the entire grove with the funds we’ve received.”

The board foresees opportunities to link the community and educational arenas from pre-school through adulthood.  To this end, physical links between campus and community, advocacy links between local groups and industries, and public links with the surrounding community are planned.

“We want to make the arboretum accessible and inviting to the general public and ensure consistency with current community planning efforts,” said Pickering.  “One of our focuses is in creating ways for the community and industry groups to get involved in the establishment of the arboretum.  We want the arboretum to be for the entire Indiana community, not just IUP.”

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