The Lawrence Rotary Arboretum was two years in the planning and dedicated in the fall of  2005 as a Rotary centennial project. Three, local rotary clubs, Lawrence Rotary Club, the Jayhawk Breakfast Rotary Club and the Central Rotary Club came to together for the celebration of the of Rotary International with a donation for a waterfront gazebo and creation of a new arboretum with trees, identification markers, and several botanical gardens.   The arboretum includes at least  eleven species of oaks, six species of maples, local flood plain trees, nut trees, ornamental redbuds, crabapples,  service berry, and many other species. An inventory of trees was developed through the department’s use of Treeworks™ mapping, using GIS to develop an ESRI story board, resulting in the creation of an electronic, interactive and self-guided tree tour of the Lawrence Rotary Arboretum. The tree markers are purchased by the local Rotary clubs though a memorial fund process. To see the ESRI story board for tree species , which provides an interactive map with information on 26 of the 100 inventoried trees of the arboretum, please visit here.

The arboretum also includes two gardens including  a  WaterWise® demonstration garden was created to  educate citizens on drought tolerant and native pollinator plants and a  certified Monarch Watch Waystation provides habitat to butterflies. Migrating geese and cranes often visit the three arboretum  ponds and connecting waterfalls.  Additional projects, such as a performance stage, bike path rest station, Woodyard Plaza,  and Westar Pergola were sponsored by local donations, scout troops and other volunteers to enhance the arboretum and city trail system.