Spring Grove Cemetery renews Level II arboretum accreditation

Spring Grove Cemetery in Medina has renewed its Level II accreditation through the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is the only global initiative that officially recognizes arboreta at various levels of development, capacity and professionalism. Spring Grove Cemetery is also listed as an accredited arboretum in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world’s arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants.

Established in 1883, Spring Grove Cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 34-acre property functions as an urban forest and public garden, featuring a diverse collection of 638 trees representing 108 species. The arboretum reflects a unique public-private partnership between the Friends of the Cemetery and the city of Medina. The mission of the partnership is to ensure public access to green space within Medina’s urban forest through outreach and education focused on the historical and cultural significance and preservation of its trees.

“As the only arboretum in Medina County, our community benefits significantly from the renewed Level II ArbNet accreditation of Spring Grove,” said Teresa Merkle, president of the Friends of the Cemetery. “For more than two decades, the Friends of the Cemetery and the city of Medina have worked together to maintain, preserve and plant trees at Spring Grove. This accreditation renewal further strengthens our partnership as we advance the care and development of the arboretum.”

ArbNet is an interactive, collaborative international community of arboreta that facilitates the sharing of knowledge, experience and resources to help arboreta meet institutional goals. ArbNet also works to raise professional standards through the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program.

The accreditation program, sponsored and coordinated by The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, in cooperation with the American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International, is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta based on professional standards. The program offers four levels of accreditation recognizing arboreta at various stages of development, capacity and professionalism. Standards include planning, governance, public access, programming, tree science, planting and conservation.

More information is available at arbnet.org.