The idea of there being an Aurora Arboretum began about 1995. The primary focus of the individuals working on the project at that time was to plant caliper trees as memorials. These plantings are located in the valley of the East Holland River, just west of the Aurora Town Hall. The planting of the memorial trees (as of 2007 called Commemorative Trees) is done under Adopt-a-Park Agreements with the Town of Aurora.
Since the 1995 beginning, the Arboretum (Aurora Community Arboretum Inc., or 'ACA') has been incorporated as a Not-for-Profit Corporation, chartered in Ontario. The corporate structure provides for Members, who elect Directors of the corporation. The Directors of the Arboretum are charged with the responsibility of fulfilling the objectives of the corporation.
The objectives are:
1. To establish and maintain an arboretum in Aurora.
2. To establish an educational program which makes known the features and values of this natural and cultural asset to the residents of Aurora.
The Arboretum directors have worked with the Town of Aurora, The Region of York and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority to prepare a more ambitious project encompassing the whole river valley from Wellington Street to St. John's Sideroard. In 2007 The Aurora Community Arboretum Inc. and the Town of Aurora agreed to a new, 10 year, Adopt-A-Park agreement to execute the Master Plan for the Arboretum.
On its way northward to Lake Simcoe, the East Holland River wanders through a 100 acre (40 hectare) flood plain between the Aurora Sideroad (Wellington Street) and St. John's Sideroad. Like much of the land in York Region, this was forested land before the settlers came. It is the aim of the Aurora Community Arboretum to help restore some of that former grandeur.
Part of the area is dedicated to formal sports facilities, part is reserved for semi-formal planting of specimen trees and the remainder is devoted to naturalized forest, meadow and wetland zones.. The area serves over 50,000 residents of Aurora. In 50 years, when our current work will be well established, the Arboretum will be serving an area population base of 100,000. It will be their jewel, their urban oasis.
Since the 1995 beginning, the Arboretum (Aurora Community Arboretum Inc., or 'ACA') has been incorporated as a Not-for-Profit Corporation, chartered in Ontario. The corporate structure provides for Members, who elect Directors of the corporation. The Directors of the Arboretum are charged with the responsibility of fulfilling the objectives of the corporation.
The objectives are:
1. To establish and maintain an arboretum in Aurora.
2. To establish an educational program which makes known the features and values of this natural and cultural asset to the residents of Aurora.
The Arboretum directors have worked with the Town of Aurora, The Region of York and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority to prepare a more ambitious project encompassing the whole river valley from Wellington Street to St. John's Sideroard. In 2007 The Aurora Community Arboretum Inc. and the Town of Aurora agreed to a new, 10 year, Adopt-A-Park agreement to execute the Master Plan for the Arboretum.
On its way northward to Lake Simcoe, the East Holland River wanders through a 100 acre (40 hectare) flood plain between the Aurora Sideroad (Wellington Street) and St. John's Sideroad. Like much of the land in York Region, this was forested land before the settlers came. It is the aim of the Aurora Community Arboretum to help restore some of that former grandeur.
Part of the area is dedicated to formal sports facilities, part is reserved for semi-formal planting of specimen trees and the remainder is devoted to naturalized forest, meadow and wetland zones.. The area serves over 50,000 residents of Aurora. In 50 years, when our current work will be well established, the Arboretum will be serving an area population base of 100,000. It will be their jewel, their urban oasis.
