Lloyd Kennedy to be honored for tree work

Village of Yellow Springs and the Yellow Springs Tree Committee Dedicate the Ellis Park and

Lloyd Kennedy Arboretum

More than one year ago the Yellow Springs Village Council agreed to rededicate Ellis Park. The Village of Yellow Springs and the Yellow Springs Tree Committee will celebrate the rededication at Ellis Park with a newly installed sign, Ellis Park and Lloyd Kennedy Arboretum, on Friday, September 28. Originally the arboretum, maintained by the Tree Committee, was located in a small area at the end of the park south of Yellow Springs Creek. Now the entire park will serve as an arboretum for Yellow Springs, a real rarity for a community of our size. 

 

The new arboretum honors Lloyd Kennedy, a founding member of the Yellow Springs Tree Committee. Lloyd, a state inspector for retail nurseries, agreed to serve only as tree consultant for the village, but after his retirement his tree consultancy turned into hard work. With Bill Duncan and others he planted the first 15 trees on the grounds of Mills Lawn Elementary School in 1976 to honor Keith Howard. Later he planted trees on village streets, near the swimming pool, at Gaunt and Duncan Parks, and many other sites. In 1982, the Tree Committee under Kennedy’s leadership applied for non-profit status and became the official volunteer tree commission of Yellow Springs. More than thirty years after his retirement Lloyd is still the heart, soul, inspiration, and lead instigator of the Yellow Springs Tree Committee, which now counts trees planted in the thousands.

 

Yellow Springs is indeed fortunate to have a growing, well-maintained arboretum especially designed for observing trees of many types, some native and some exotic. Village residents can see mature trees, identified with labels, to help them make decisions regarding home plantings. The park is also a place to relax and simply enjoy a variety of beautiful trees that constantly change with the seasons in a relatively small area.

 

The Ellis Park and Lloyd Kennedy Arboretum rededication ceremony will take place at the park and arboretum on Friday, September 28 at noon. The public is welcome to join village officials and Tree Committee members to honor Lloyd Kennedy for his important work. Information about trees and the Tree Committee will be available.