Community leaders and local officials celebrated Tuesday as they cut the ribbon on a new arboretum at Bonita Lakes Watershed. The new attraction is intended to both help educate the public about trees and forestry, as well as provide another draw to the recreational area for residents and visitors.

Those taking the main gravel trail around the upper lake will see signs fixed to trees and other plants with information telling the name, family and origin of the plant, as well as a QR code that will pull up additional information when scanned. In August, Joshua Granger, a dendrologist and associate professor at Mississippi State University’s forestry department, visited Bonita and got to work identifying and tagging 85 different species for the arboretum project.

Although residents have seen the signs go up over the past few weeks, Meridian Tree Commission Chairperson Angela Barnard said efforts to create an arboretum go back several years. In 2022, she said, Meridianite Ollie Wilkes came up with the idea for the project and was willing to put some of his own money forward to help the project go forward.

The Tree Commission also learned of a grant through The Mississippi Forestry Commission that would match Wilkes’ money for the work, Barnard said.

“Then early this year, the good news came in that we had received the grant,” she said. “Now remember, this was in 2022 so we waited over a year and a half to get the good news that we could start work.”

Granger began tagging trees on August 27, and the project culminated Tuesday with a ribbon cutting of what is one of just two arboretums in the state of Mississippi, Barnard said.

Wilkes said thanks are owed to the city of Meridian, the tree commission, community supporters and everyone who had a hand in making his vision for Bonita Lakes become a reality. Many don’t realize just how important trees and forestry are in Mississippi, he said.

“Forestry is much more than cutting down trees. It’s the ability to understand a tree,” he said. “If you haven’t got any other use for a tree, on a hot summer day, you can take a lawn chair and sit under it, and it’s worth it.”

Community Development Director Craig Hitt said Bonita Lakes is under appreciated for the opportunities it provides to Meridian and the surrounding areas. With more than 3,000 acres offering miles of hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails, walking paths, playgrounds and several lakes to fish in, the watershed is a great resource for the community, he said, and the arboretum provides another great opportunity to learn and have fun.

Laura Carmichael, executive director of Visit Meridian, said the arboretum also provides a great opportunity to reach outside of Meridian and Lauderdale County and draw outside visitors into town to take advantage of what the city has to offer. The arboretum, she said, can be used to promote conservation, the community and education.

“So through Meridian, we can promote Bonita Lakes and this new arboretum as a travel destination for naturalists, hikers, bikers and anyone wanting to get away and enjoy the beautiful outdoors,” she said.