The inspiration for LEAF came from a bit of garden envy.

LEAF founders Dan and Kathy Dahlkemper took a wrong turn in Youngstown, Ohio and ended up at a local arboretum.

They immediately thought: if Youngstown can have an arboretum, why can’t Erie?

Subsequently, Dan was working with Sister Mary Miller to develop the beautiful landscape and gardens that is now the Inner-City Neighborhood Art House. Artist and gardener Susan Kemenyffy was creating a mural for the Art House building and mentioned that a local garden club was looking for a millennium project. Dan and Kathy started thinking that perhaps their dream of an arboretum in Erie could become a reality.

After investigating several sites, Frontier Park was identified as the best location. It is close to Lake Erie, which gave it a temperate climate, yet far enough removed to eliminate the wind and buffering. There was deep sandy soil by the roads and moist soil by Cascade Creek, which would allow for a great variety of trees. The idea was pitched to Mayor Joyce Savacchio who climbed on board as LEAF’s educational plan fit with the city’s recreational plan for the park. At that time, Frontier Park was under maintained and under utilized.

The big break came when Governor Tom Ridge facilitated major funding to enable the development of trails, tree plantings, and the installation of electricity at the Park. LEAF was formally dedicated on September 8, 2001, after four years of planning, fundraising and planting.

Since that time, 95% of the master plan for the arboretum has been completed. There are now over 1,000 trees at LEAF. Pathways have been created, kiosks installed, and the bridges renovated. Working with environmental groups, the soil and water systems that include Cascade Creek has been cleaned. The beautiful Patricia McCain Outdoor Amphitheater was built and the Carrie T. Watson Garden club created a walking labyrinth. In 2012, the new Education Center was built which has provided LEAF with a classroom, office and public restrooms. A green roof was installed in 2014 and 2015. Many community partners have provided financial support as well as in-kind donations of materials and labor.

As the arboretum developed, so did its programming. LEAF has both classroom and on-site educational programs, festivals, and arts and cultural activities. Some of it’s first programs, an Arbor Day celebration for 5th grade students and LEAF Festival, have been held since 1998. New programs have been added regularly and LEAF is ever-evolving to fit our community’s needs and interests!