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The
Vincent J. Hebert Arboretum is located
within the city of Pittsfield's oldest park,
Springside Park, 874 North Street, off Route
7, approximately 2 miles from Park Square
and is approximately 231 acres in size.
In March of 1990 Vin Hebert, former Pittsfield
Parks Superintendent, made a Project Request
to Pittsfield Beautiful to help start a
group that would develop the Arboretum at
Springside Park. He included a master plan
titled 'The Arboretum At Springside Park'
that was prepared for the Parks Commission
in October 1963 by Richard C. Page from
the University of Massachusetts.
 With
initial start-up funding and guidance provided
by Pittsfield Beautiful, an Advisory Group
with a coordinating committee set out to
establish a world-class Arboretum at Springside
Park. It worked for a number of years to
develop a mission statement, by-laws, committee
structure and plans for the long-term sustainability
of Hebert Arboretum. During this time, along
with volunteers from the community, it worked
tirelessly to install gardens, care for
trees, and beautify the grounds, historically
known as Elmhurst, around Springside House.
Thus began the project that became known
as the Hebert Arboretum.
The
Hebert Arboretum was officially established
when it was recognized as a state and federal
non-profit organization in 1999. Operating
under a board of Directors Hebert Arboretum
has made significant strides over the past
several years to carry out a dream first
envisioned by Vincent J. Hebert, for whom
it is named. 'Vin's' hope was to see a thriving
public display of gardens and trees within
Springside Park for the enjoyment, inspiration,
and refreshment of all who happen by.
In
1998 Brian Gibbons, a student at the University
of Massachusetts, prepared a thorough assessment
of the southwest corner of the Arboretum,
and helped the Arboretum create a master
plan for that section of the Arboretum.
In
May of 1999 Walter Cudnohufsky Associates
Preliminary Assessment presented Mr. Cudnohufsky's
observations, issues and assessment of the
preliminary scope of the work facing the
arboretum, including the entire acerage
of the park.
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Springside
House
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In
the Spring of 2000 Students from the Conway
School of Landscape Design worked with the
Arboretum Board on a Master Plan for the
Southwest corner of the Arboretum which
included many new ideas as well as an ecological
restoration and landscape design created
for the lower pond area off of Springside
Avenue.
Today
the Arboretum's Master Plan is in development,
concentrating at the present time on the
groomed southwest corner of the Arboretum
and supporting the rest of the park as a
natural wildlife habitat.
Hebert
Arboretum has participated in Arbor Day
activities since 1997, has sponsored numerous
nature, bird, wildflower, and stargazing
walks and slide shows as well as gardening
and pruning workshops. It hosts a summer
concert series that is well attended.
Today,
visitors to the Arboretum will find many
of the specimen (as well as native) trees
labeled, a kiosk with maps and literature,
the Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden, the
Memory Garden, the Vincent J. Hebert Lilac
Walk and Daffodil Hill amidst a backdrop
of fields, forest, and beautiful Berkshire
views.
Hebert
Arboretum is open to the creative ideas
and participation of the public is committed
to providing special place where education
and beauty mingle effortlessly.
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