BY ARBNET ACCREDITATION PROGRAM
LISLE, Illinois (October 20, 2015) – The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum are pleased to announce the Village of Riverside has been awarded a Level II Accreditation. By achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens, the Arboretum at the Village of Riverside is now recognized as an accredited arboretum in the Morton Register of Arboretum.
Established in 1869, the Village of Riverside affords a unique opportunity for visitors and residents to enjoy tree collections sited within a vibrant residential community. The Village of Riverside, a historical national landmark designated by the National Park Service, treasures its natural landscape and design by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The village is noted as one of the first suburban planned developments in America and the design of the roadways and park system mimic the Des Plaines River, which borders the community. Olmsted set aside nearly half of Riverside’s acreage as public green space, and largely used native trees and shrubs in his landscape designs.
The Riverside Arboretum collection policy promotes the education and appreciation of native trees in the Chicago region. Trees and shrubs are grouped naturalistically along streets and in parkways, common spaces and natural areas. Of the more than 100 species currently documented, greater than 70 percent are species are native to the Upper Midwest.
“We are thrilled that Riverside’s Arboretum has achieved ArbNet accreditation,” says Mike Collins, Village of Riverside forester. “The certification recognizes diversity of tree species, stewardship, and the environmental education programs we have for residents and visitors.”
About the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program
The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is sponsored and coordinated by The Morton Arboretum in cooperation with American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International. This international initiative offers four levels of accreditation, recognizing arboreta of various degrees of development, capacity and professionalism. Accreditation is based on self-assessment and documentation of an arboretum’s level of achievement of accreditation standards. Standards include planning, governance, labeling of species, staff or volunteer support, public access and programming and tree science, planting and conservation. More information is available at www.arbnet.org. 
