At the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier (LEAF) in Erie, Penn. Dahlkemper Landscape Architects & Contractors have donated tree plantings, walkway installation and tree pruning as well as landscape architectural services to obtain grants and construction documents over the last 15 years. Additionally, they have donated $92,000 in cash to help support the part time director and program activities. This park has over 250 varieties of trees. Here's the replacement bridge installed by LEAF (as viewed from the other side).

 

Much of the native vegetation has been kept (including a natural wetland area) with a mission of creating educational opportunities and outdoor experiences for the community. An outdoor classroom is used for instruction and as a venue for entertainment. LEAF has become a focus for environmental education in the community. Here an arborist is engaging students at the annual Arbor Day event.

As a landscape architect and president of Dahlkemper Landscape Architects & Contractors, I started the concept of an arboretum for Erie, Penn., in 1998 as a way to give back to the community as a millenial gift. Since then my company has donated services from tree planting, walkway intallation and tree pruning to landscape architectural services to obtain grants and construction documents to bid projects for these grants. Additionally, we have donated $92,000 in cash to help support the part time director and program activities.

Since the inception of Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier, over $2 million in grant funding has been spent to improve this 35-acre public park. The park was under utilized and poorly maintained in 1998.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Since that time, it's become a real community asset.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+A small building that functions as office and community education center has become the focus of community activity.

It all started with a wrong turn back in the late 1990s. When traveling in a nearby community, my wife Kathy and I missed a turn and came upon an arboretum. If that community could have an arboretum, why couldn't Erie?

This has been a big commitment on the part of the firm. The community has been good to us in our 60 years of improving Erie's environment and this is our gift back to the community for their enjoyment.

LEAF is adjacent to three schools and located at the terminus of I-79 at the start of Bayfront Parkway and linked into a class A bike system that is part of the Seaway Trail. LEAF was instrumental in obtaining these connections. A meandering Cascade Creek finds its way down to Presque Isle Bay.

The riparian buffer along Cascade Creek helps to protect the waters of this urban stream and provides opportunities for passive recreation like walking and jogging along the stream, which is stocked with trout each spring. For more information go to www.leaferie.org.