East of the IM East Recreational Center lies a wooded area filled with tall trees. As part of the network of connected wooded areas on campus, this space contains a range of tree species that contribute to the biodiversity of Michigan State University. Species found in this area include white pine, honey locust, white oak. white ash, sugar maple, red oak, Scotch pine, basswood, and black cherry.
Students, faculty, and visitors alike are welcome to walk through this site and experience the variety of plantings that grow in the woodland. The tall canopy provides shade and creates a quiet, natural setting near the recreation center. Like other wooded areas, this contributes to the university's ecological diversity while providing the campus community with a place to connect with nature.
Current archival research on this historic woodland is ongoing and to this day much of its history remains unknown. This uncertainty highlights how easily important local knowledge can be lost over time. If you or someone you know has information, stories, old photos, or historical accounts regarding this wooded area, we invite you to share them with the Beal Botanical Garden to help preserve and better understand its past.