Grounds of Former Meek School Now Accredited Arboretum

By Jim Gersbach | Contributing Writer

What was once just a grassy field at the former Meek Elementary School (4039 NE Alberta Ct.) has recently been accredited as a Level 1 arboretum by Arbnet, an international arboretum accreditation and networking program. The new arboretum is called the Concordia Learning Landscape Arboretum and is the fifth in Oregon nationally accredited by Arbnet.

Jim Gersbach and Mallory Pratt, longtime Concordia Tree Team volunteers, submitted the successful application. They were required to meet five criteria:

• At least 25 different species, with labels and documentation
• An oversight group for the accreditation process
• An operational plan for the protection and maintenance of the trees
• A group dedicated to care and maintenance of the trees
• Public access, community engagement, education and on-site events

With the help of Friends of Trees, Concordia Tree Team volunteers began planting trees at the school (now called Alliance High School) on April 2nd, 2010. The first trees at Meek came from Portland Parks and Recreation Urban Forestry’s Learning Landscape Program. Today, the volunteers continue to weed, mulch, water and do structural pruning on the trees.

The arboretum has about four dozen species of trees representing 27 genera in 20 families. A main focus is the rapidly expanding oak family. The collection includes species from five different continents and at least five species native to Oregon. Members of the Concordia Tree Team are very excited to have their many years of dedication be rewarded with arboretum status.

Jim Gersbach is a longtime volunteer with the Concordia Tree Team and has lived in Concordia for 22 years. He is a master pruner and planting crew leader with the non-profit Friends of Trees, and occasionally gives tree walks at Hoyt Arboretum and around the city.