Ƶ landscape architecture program partners with city to design Starkville arboretum
Contact: Kaitlyn Church
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State landscape architecture faculty and students are partnering with the city of Starkville to design a new public arboretum at Cornerstone Park, creating a future outdoor space focused on native plants, research and community access.
The project is led by retired landscape architecture Professor Bob Brzuszek. It brings together city leaders and Ƶ’s Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design to develop a long-term vision for the site, which includes young forest, grassland and wetland systems.
“Landscape architecture students are an important component of creating an arboretum for Starkville,” Brzuszek said. “They have a much-needed skill set for developing interesting ideas and exploring ways of linking places together. The arboretum is also a great way for students to learn about properly installing trees and native species for different environmental conditions.”
The project reflects Ƶ’s land-grant mission of teaching, research and service by inviting faculty across disciplines to use the space as a living laboratory. Forestry students have already conducted a tree inventory, and wildlife students have finished a spring breeding bird count. Additional opportunities are expected for research on young, evolving ecosystems and environmental interactions.
Once complete, the arboretum will provide Starkville residents with a free, publicly accessible nature trail. Currently, the nearest comparable site is the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, located about 25 miles away.
“Research has shown repeatedly that being in a natural environment reduces stress and improves mental and physical health,” Brzuszek said. “This will become an invaluable resource for residents, students and visitors.”
Unlike traditional ornamental gardens, the arboretum will focus on native plants suited to existing wetland soils. Interpretive signage along trails will emphasize sustainable landscaping practices and environmental education, encouraging visitors to incorporate native species and site-appropriate design into their own landscapes.
Cornerstone Park is located at 222 Batters Blvd., in Starkville, off Mississippi Highway 25.
Ƶ’s Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design, housed in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is available online at .
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