Arboretum: For trees' sake

The Washington Park Arboretum needs the dramatic advances planned for its south side.

Healthy trees, outdoor activity and trail-blazing educational opportunities are all part of the mix in what the Arboretum calls its Pacific Connections project for a new south entrance, paths and a series of new plantings. That part of the Arboretum is overdue for changes. The plantings are overgrown, aging and, in some cases, damaged. And the area isn't well visited, except apparently by those who find an overgrown environment conducive to drug activity and the like.

At the same time, we trust the city, which owns the property, the collection managers at the University of Washington and the fundraising Arboretum Foundation will pay attention to public uneasiness about how tree removals fit into overall plans. Pacific Connections looks like a project where communication and a certain amount of flexibility should be the keys to unlocking enthusiasm, not worries. Richard Ellison of Save Seattle's Trees said he was encouraged by city promises at a meeting of marking individual trees slated for removal and doing so quickly, not at the last minute. Handled right, the project could provide lessons for better public involvement and outcomes in other city decisions on trees. The involvement of the eminent UW experts can help.

The south end suffers in comparison with the north end. Arboretum visitors tend to turn away, if they even get near there. With the new project, there will be a chance to explore plants from Chile, China, New Zealand and Australia. Visitors will learn a lot, including perhaps a bit about what plants may find a more hospitable welcome here as global warming occurs. Unlike climate change, the kinds of changes planned in the Arboretum are promising.