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May/June 2022
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THE DAVEY BULLETIN
ARBORETUM PLANS FOR DAVEY SEED CAMPUS TAKE SHAPE
Work continues on designing and developing the Davey
Science, Employee Education and Development (SEED)
campus in Kent, Ohio, across from the corporate office.
Dan Joy, executive vice president and assistant to the
president, said one focus in 2022 for the SEED Campus is
on finalizing the design and construction drawings for the
property in preparation for major site work and construction
starting in 2023.
"There's a ton of progress being made in the arboretum
and overall site development planning process, with hopes
of breaking ground later this year or early 2023, weather
permitting," Joy said.
A significant portion of the arboretum site is located on
property Davey acquired from the Kent City Schools that
was home to a shuttered elementary school. The school
building, which stood on land adjacent to the existing
John Davey Arboretum, was razed earlier this year to
make way for the new arboretum.
The new arboretum will be organized by eight "rooms"
grouped by like plantings in the following arrangements:
u Four Season Garden u Flowering Shrubs
u Native Ohio Garden u Conifer Collection
u Water Garden u Shade Trees
u Pollinator Garden u Ornamental Trees
Joy said similar plantings are being grouped together for
educational purposes for both employees and the public,
which will have access to trails in the arboretum via a
public parking area.
"The biggest benefit the arboretum will provide to
employees and the public is the educational aspect. It will
also serve as our front door to the campus. When you pull
into the main driveway, employees and visitors will weave
through the arboretum. The arboretum is going to provide
a beautiful entrance to not only our campus but also the
city of Kent."
This open area on the Davey SEED Campus is where the new arboretum
space will be built. This parcel of land is directly across from the corporate
office main entrance and is adjacent to the existing John Davey Arboretum.
Arboretum Rooms & Collection Areas
This architectural design plan shows
how the eight "rooms" of the
arboretum are grouped by plant type.
