This past month, in collaboration with the spring 2025 Openlands TreeKeepers course, The Alphawood Arboretum added 53 more trees to the arboretum’s campus. The added trees bring the total number of species on Mies Campus from 68 to 78, and total number of trees from 1,601 to 1,654. These new trees include varieties such as the Black Tupelo, Bur Oak, American Hophornbeam, Common Hackberry, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Purple Catalpa, Tulip Tree, Eastern Redbud, and Serviceberries. The new trees are located on and around areas such as Siegel Field, Man on a Bench Park, and Tech Central.

The planting event was organized by Openlands which is a non-profit land trust that works to protect the open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding regions. The Openlands’ spring TreeKeepers course is part of the TreeKeepers Certification Program which gives those with interest in trees the opportunity to gain training and education to receive the certification needed to steward trees with Openlands.

Volunteers at the event mentioned that it was a great opportunity to learn about tree care and found it rewarding to help plant trees in a space vital to the surrounding community’s urban forest. The event was attended by many volunteers represented by surrounding community members and faculty from Illinois Tech. The arboretum plans to collaborate with Openlands to continue hosting such events. As noted by Openlands volunteers, the arboretum is in a special position to host these events as it possesses both a large selection of trees and lecture spaces.

As The Alphawood Arboretum continues to grow, these events and collaborations will play a large role in engaging the community and improving the arboretum.

See additional photos from the event here.