It’s not often you stumble across a “botanical laboratory” in the middle of the city. That’s exactly what Rhonda Philipps, president of Chatham University, says is special about the Shadyside campus arboretum.“This was Andrew Mellon’s home,” she says. “There are grounds and fountains, and lots of trees were planted a long time ago.” Chatham is now partnering with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to improve and maintain the 32-acre arboretum — a “designated space for trees and other plants to be cultivated for scientific and educational purposes,” according to the university website.The initiative is part of Chatham’s Renew 2025 Action Plan to beautify and restore the arboretum, which has been named one of the country’s 50 most beautiful on college campuses.Chatham’s Shadyside campus dates back to 1869. Elements of the Mellon estate on the property were designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm, founded by the sons of Central Park designer Frederick Law Olmsted.More than 115 species of trees have been identified on the campus, including Japanese flowering crabapple, river birch, Kentucky coffeetree and 11 species of maple. Chatham’s arboretum has been named a TreeUSA campus by the Arbor Day Foundation for the last seven years. It is also Level II accredited by the ArbNet/Botanic Gardens Conservation International Reciprocal Accreditation program — meaning it has more than 100 species of trees, public access, and someone is paid to maintain the trees and plants. In 1997, Chatham joined the American Public Garden Association.Studies show that, aside from improving the appearance of outdoor spaces and being part of the wildlife ecosystem, trees are vitally important to human health.A recent analysis of Chatham’s Arboretum valued the trees on the campus at $2 million. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy will help make recommendations to enhance and preserve the arboretum for years to come. Photo courtesy of Chatham University.The Parks Conservancy has worked with Chatham for more than a decade, partnering on environmental education programs at the Frick Environmental Center and consulting about green building principles and the living environment.“The Parks Conservancy can really be the expertise behind having a university arboretum here in Pittsburgh and can help us figure out management and recovery of some of the things that have been lost in the years and also stabilize and maintain existing tree cover,” Philipps says.Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has conducted a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the arboretum. They will also create a detailed care plan to diversify the number of species and protect them.“It’s part analysis and understanding the current tree canopy and health conditions, and then making some long-term recommendations that the university can deploy, so that the trees are protected and cared for into the future,” says James Snow, chief administrative officer with the Parks Conservancy.Part of the Parks Conservancy’s initial findings was the value of the trees on the property — over $2 million.“The amount of carbon capture and urban heat island offset and the amount of stormwater runoff these trees are providing is truly incredible,” says Snow.The arboretum also provides watershed management to Negley Run. “This is an asset for Pittsburgh, especially all the neighborhoods surrounding us. It’s a jewel to have a university nationally certified arboretum right here that people can come and enjoy and see the beautiful trees and enjoy nature right here in the middle of a major city,” Philipps says. The Chatham Arboretum is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The post Chatham University and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy partner to enhance Shadyside campus arboretum appeared first on NEXTpittsburgh.