Visiting Arboretum North
The Arboretum North Gardens is one of the hidden gems of our 30-acre arboretum – indeed of the entire Ohio State University campus. It provides a wonderful respite for taking a walk and picnicking. The gardens include a diverse willow collection, a 3.5-acre research lake with several fish species, a picnic area, a planting of 1,000 trees native to Ohio, and more. We welcome visitors to explore this area from dawn until dusk.
Arboretum North is located behind the Nationwide Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center at 2201 Fred Taylor Drive.
Note, you must pre-purchase parking passes to park in the 4-H parking lot. The closest parking kiosk can be found at the Agriculture Administration Building parking lot, or you can use the ParkMobile app to purchase parking passes for your vehicle. Typically, hourly parking is $2.50/hour.
History of Arboretum North
In the early 1980s, land in the area west of Olentangy River Road and north of Lane Avenue was being relinquished to the development pursuits of the Athletic Department. Jack Havens, president of The OSU Board of Trustees and a tree promoter, along with Dean Kottman of the College of Agriculture, retained this green space. This area between SR315 and Fred Taylor Drive now helps blend the residential and urban community with the university. Replacing a waste holding site, Chadwick Arboretum was able to create a beautiful green reserve for research and enjoyment.
The above map shows the location of each collection/garden in Arboretum North. Click on the link below to visit the specific garden page.
- Colour Columbus Native Tree Collection – 1,000 Trees (A)
- Willow Collection (B)
- Donald Mayhew Memorial Grove (C)
- 3.5-acre Research Lake (D)
- Jones Memorial Grove (E)
- Prairie Plant Research Plots and Monarch Butterfly Waystation (F)
- Andy Geiger Aesculus (Buckeye) Collection (G)
- enCORE Solar Decathlon House (H)