Accredited Level 1 Arboretum
at Otterbein Granville

2158 Columbus Road, Granville, Ohio 43023

Down Arrow

Continual Commitment to Nature

Arboretum at Otterbein Granville

Since 2019, the campus of Otterbein Granville has been an accredited Level I Arboretum by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program. This means that our campus is dedicated to planting trees, serving as a testament to our ongoing commitment to trees, landscaping, and a love of nature.

Perfect for Nature Lovers

Living Among the Trees

Nestled on a 94-acre property featuring a two-acre pond within a wooded area and four miles of walking trails, Otterbein Granville is an excellent place for nature lovers to hike, relax on one of our many benches, and unwind. The close proximity to diverse ecosystems and natural settings offers significant health benefits, making it especially appealing to the residents of our community.

The Otterbein Granville Arboretum has 95 species of trees in our collection, highlighted by a variety of native Ohio species, such as:

  • Oaks
  • Elms
  • Maples
  • Dogwoods
  • Walnuts
  • Hickories
  • Redbuds
  • Beech
  • Honey locusts
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687
Trees Planted and Cataloged

Trees graphic

95
Species of Trees in Our Collection

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Black Tupelo
is Our Signature Tree

Exterior view of Otterbein Granville
Bluebird in a tree at Otterbein Granville
Otterbein Granville residents walking outdoors in the Arboretum
Close-up view of baby birds in a nest at Otterbein Granville
Exterior view of Otterbein Granville campus

How It All Began

The History of the Otterbein Granville Arboretum

In January 2018, Dawes Arboretum contacted Otterbein Granville about becoming an accredited Level I Arboretum. Our journey with Dawes started with meetings and research, including a survey distribution and conducting a poll of our residents. Based on the research and survey results, we found enough interest to pursue this opportunity. 

Just over a year later, in April 2019, our project received a Level I Accreditation from the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program, sponsored and coordinated by The Morton Arboretum near Chicago. The program standards include:

  • Planning
  • Governance
  • Public access
  • Programming and tree science
  • Planting
  • Conservation

Being officially recognized by ArbNet as one of the few (20) accredited Level I arboreta in Ohio is a significant achievement for Otterbein Granville residents and the community. Our resident-led Landscape & Arboretum committee supported Cindy Dill, the landscaping manager, in completing the application process, designing a logo and tree labels, selecting official photos, and documenting more than 600 trees in our community.

Growing Into the Future

Sustainable Stewardship Tree Plan

Our future goals for the Otterbein Granville Arboretum include:

  • Preserving mature trees
  • Planning for replacements and additions
  • Annually adding labels to trees
  • Continuing to diversify our tree collection
  • Practicing conservation to benefit the quality of life for our trees, wildlife, and pollinators

We look forward to continuing our sustainable stewardship tree plan by providing self-guided pamphlets with tree lists and maps, which will help us earn recognition in our community.