Posted: Friday, June 6, 2014 6:26 pm | Updated: 5:26 pm, Mon Jun 9, 2014.

Elk Neck arboretum aimed at teaching locals about trees

By Erik Halberg Special to the Whig Cecil Daily

Entrance sign and picnic area located at Elk Neck State Forest Arboretum Trail just off Old Eck Neck Road in Cecil County, Maryland.

ELK NECK — A group of forest rangers, state and local officials and members of the Cecil County community gathered on Friday morning for the opening ceremony of a new arboretum in Elk Neck State Forest.

The arboretum, located off Old Elk Neck Road just past Buck Run Road, is open to the public and sports several walking trails and picnic areas. The trails meander through the patches of freshly planted trees that are the arboretum’s main focus.

There are a total of 52 species of trees, all native to Maryland, planted throughout the arboretum, each of which can be identified by a small informational plate placed nearby.

Should the need arise, solar-powered restrooms have been built next to the picnic area and parking lot.

Cecil County Council President Robert Hodge, DNR Secretary Joseph Gill and Maryland State Forester Steve Koehn plant a Carolina rose during the arboretum opening ceremony on Friday at Elk Neck State Forest.

The arboretum represents the first time a project of its nature has been approved by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

“There is something special that occurs when we recreate the work of the land and make a place for others to visit and enjoy,” DNR Secretary Joseph Gill said, gesturing at the arboretum behind him.

The four acres that comprise the arboretum are a part of a larger property of nearly 130 acres that the state bought back in 2011. While four acres have become the arboretum, the rest of the property has been incorporated into Elk Neck State Forest, where it will be open to the public for activities such as hunting, hiking, and bird-watching.

“[The arboretum] will provide a multi-use recreational area separate from the rest of Elk Neck State Forest,” John Bennett, a member of the Cecil County Forestry Board, said. “And hopefully, it will be replicated in some form or another elsewhere.”

Maryland State Forester Steven Koehn said that there are currently no concrete plans for building other arboretums. However, if people were to approach DNR asking for more arboretums, Koehn believes that his office would be open to the idea.

In addition to the arboretum’s educational purpose, Gill feels that it presents a tourist attraction that will help bring people into Cecil County and, hopefully, stay for awhile. He added that he plans to bring his wife to see the arboretum and take her out to dinner in nearby Elkton.

Cecil County Health Officer Stephanie Garrity attended the opening ceremony on Friday.

“We support anything that will get people outside and moving, with the added benefit of showing off the beauty of Cecil County,” Garrity said.

Maryland State Forester Steve Koehn and Cecil County Forestry Board President Gabrielle Oldham spent time viewing the different species of trees after the arboretum’s opening ceremony on Friday at Elk Neck State Forest.

According to Gill, DNR approved building the arboretum as a way to help educate members of the public about the many types of trees they see every day.

“Because of their absorption of carbon monoxide and production of oxygen, trees are our single most important resource for keeping the environment healthy,” he said. “The more educated we are about trees, the better off we will be in the future.”