URBANA, IL (April 2026) – The Illinois Arboretum on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana has been awarded a Level 1 Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta at various levels of development, capacity, and professionalism.
The accreditation comes a year after the formation of the new Division of Parks and Natural Spaces, which includes the Illinois Arboretum and Allerton Park and Retreat Center, and is overseen by Executive Director Derek Peterson.
Upon taking over management of the Arboretum, Peterson noted it was important to pursue the official accreditation to ensure public education became more of a focus.
“Being part of the University, it is important for us to not only be a space for respite and wellness, but to provide educational opportunities to the community,” Peterson explained. “One of the requirements of being an accredited Arboretum is to provide those opportunities. It really solidifies our commitment to caring for trees, and to making this a welcoming and engaging space for visitors to learn about them.”
Peterson went on to share that the Illinois Arboretum is now listed in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world’s arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants, making it easier for people to learn about it and plan their visit.
“Historically, I don’t think the strategy was to promote the Arboretum in such a wide fashion. It was much more research focused,” Peterson said. “We aren’t getting rid of that component, but our strategy is more community focused, using this space to educate people on the importance of trees.”
In addition, Peterson sees the potential for the Arboretum to be “another feather in the University’s cap” as a recruitment and retention tool for students, faculty, and staff.
“It’s no secret that access to green space has numerous benefits. The Arboretum – and green spaces like it around campus – can improve mental and physical wellbeing for the University community and beyond,” Peterson noted.
In addition to enjoying the Arboretum on their own, the community will start to see increased public events there. Peterson and his staff, which includes two dedicated Arboretum employees and seasonal extra help, plus ten shared staff between the Arboretum and Allerton, have already welcomed visitors for tree ID hikes, birding hikes, yoga, and a new volunteer program. They are partnering with Facilities and Services to host an Arbor Day Tree Planting Celebration at noon on Friday, April 24.
About the Illinois Arboretum: The Illinois Arboretum was established on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus in 1990. It consists of 160 acres with more than 1000 individual woody plants, including approximately 100 tree species. The Arboretum contains a variety of formal gardens and tree collections arranged in allees, groves, and vistas. Future plans will focus on specific tree species collections, expanded tree habitats, and public educational opportunities. The Arboretum serves as the home for The Japan House, The IDEA Garden, Illinois Prairie Hosta Society, and the Doris K. Christopher Illinois Extension Center.
About ArbNet: ArbNet is an interactive, collaborative, international community of arboreta. ArbNet facilitates the sharing of knowledge, experience, and other resources to help arboreta meet their institutional goals and works to raise professional standards through the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program. The accreditation program, sponsored and coordinated by The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois in cooperation with American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International, is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta based on a set of professional standards. The program offers four levels of accreditation, recognizing arboreta of various degrees of development, capacity and professionalism. Standards include planning, governance, public access, programming and tree science, planting and conservation. More information is available at www.arbnet.org.
