ROCK SPRINGS – After being chosen by the state to represent Southwest Wyoming in a unique program to bring trees to this corner of Wyoming, the Rock Springs Recreation Advisory Board is asking the public to help name the arboretum.

The state was looking at several spots such as Lyman and Evanston but decided that Rock Springs would represent the southwest portion of the state. The project is funded by a grant from the state which provides infrastructure and trees. In return Rock Springs must provide the maintenance and care of the trees as well as provide a spot for the arboretum.

Director of Parks and Recreation Dave Lansang said the area where they will put the  arboretum will be at the west end on the golf course.

The purpose of the program is to identify which species of trees do well in this environment. Lansang said they will plant several species of trees and when they find a certain kind which is not doing well, they will replace it with another kind. They are planning on planting around 100 trees to start the process.

The project will also be a place where schools gave take field trips to, science class experiments and for the regular homeowner who wants to plant trees but is not sure which ones would be the best in the local environment.

Currently the board has been deciding on a name but have not come up with one. Board member Joe Lison said he would love to get some name ideas from the public and urged the public to respond. The name has to represent the Wyoming’s southwest corner and just not Sweetwater County.

Lansang asked members of the public who have name ideas for the project to email them to the recreation department or leave them on the recreation department’s Facebook page.

The department will start prep work this fall and grant requirements state they trees must be in the ground by this springs.