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Grand opening set for Skyrman Arboretum Sarah Garceau Wright of the Central Point Parks and Recreation Department checks out some of the trees that will make up Skyrman Park. Mail Tribune / file photo Tuesday Oct 25, 2016 at 6:28 PM Oct 26, 2016 at 7:40 AM Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — The city's long-awaited arboretum, visible from Highway 99 next to Oregon State Police headquarters, celebrates its grand opening at 10 a.m. Wednesday. A tiny forest on the outskirts of the city, the Skyrman Central Point Arboretum will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays throughout winter after a simple ribbon cutting and some speeches during the public unveiling. City officials say they are eager for the space to become a regularly used park and a spot for residents to enjoy nature and learn about tree species native to Oregon. The 3.1 acre site, donated by former industrial arts schoolteacher Wallace “Wally” Skyrman upon his death in 2010, contains most tree species native to Oregon. Skyrman's “Field of Dream Trees" will serve in a similar capacity as Rogue River's popular arboretum, a natural park setting used by schoolchildren to learn about native trees. Skyrman, who taught in Medford schools, and his family were fascinated with tree propagation and they planted every tree species native to Oregon on the site. Prior to his death, Skyrman approached the city to discuss his hopes for the triangle-shaped piece of property being preserved for educational purposes. Central Point Parks and Recreation Manager Jennifer Boardman said the property has mature trees unique to the city that are 50 or more years old. The city was granted some $36,000 in 2015 by the Oregon Community Foundation to complete initial construction. A second grant, $150,000 from the OCF Skyrman Fund, was received this year to help the city get the space closer to a usable state. Boardman said the city had completed trails and a parking lot and that eventual plans included using two structures, a house and a cabin on the site, for classroom and meeting space. Local schools will be invited to use the site and to assist in further development such as additional plantings and upkeep. Notable species on the site include a towering gray pine, with pine cones larger than a football, several redwoods and some impressive cedar trees. "This is probably one of those parks we'll probably never be completely done with. We have a number of community groups lined up to help with different projects in the coming year," Boardman said, noting that Crater students had helped with getting the space ready for the official opening and that local Scouts were in the initial planning phases for projects that would create interpretive materials and some structural rehab. "Our main emphasis is for this to be a place that people can use for educational purposes and for local residents and students to help with and to enjoy." Reach Medford freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected].