What is an arboretum? A place for the scientific study and public exhibition of rare trees.

Where is the Parsons Arboretum? The Visitor Center is at 21st and Briggs in Parsons, Kansas. (North End of Glenwood Park). Phone: (620) 421-7088 or (620) 421-7077.

The Parsons Arboretum is destined to "be a jewel" in the park system of the City of Parsons. The Parsons Tree Advisory Board was established by the City Commission in October, 1987. An early dream of the tree board was to establish an arboretum. That dream became a possibility when the Union Pacific Railroad deeded approximately 19 acres of land to the city on October 21, 1991.

Basic costs for specimen tree planting have been funded by the Small Business Administration, with matching funds provided by the City of Parsons and the Tree Advisory Board.

The Wetlands Project, a feature on 2 acres of the Arboretum and funded by Western Resources, includes an Observation Dock provided with funds and volunteer labor by the Southeast Kansas Audubon Society.

Other features of the Arboretum include a gazebo provided by the Parsons Amateur Woodworkers Society, a memorial tree area and a Operation Bright Touch flowerbed.

The Visitor Center is in the process of being renovated, financed jointly by the City of Parsons and the Arboretum Foundation.

Many memorial gifts have been given to the Arboretum. These include the Paul Harlow Gardens, the Freshman Memorial Arbor, the Helen Harlow Arbor, the Bolinger Gardens, the Morgan Memorial Trees, the Rice Family Memorial, Audubon Society Memorial for Betty & Harry Bryant, the Austrian Pine Thicket and most recently the Janssen Family Memorial Water Garden.

Memorials in the planning stages are the Audry Billman Memorial Land for Parking and Landscaping and the Parsons Rotary Club Lake and Gardens.

Many memorial trees have been sponsored in memory and honor of loved ones.

In May 2000, the Visitor Center was renamed the Earl Seifert Visitor Center to honor Earl Seifert, who was instrumental in the development of the Parsons Arboretum.