In 1978 South Seattle College and its Foundation established an arboretum on a 5 acre site that overlooks downtown Seattle, Elliott Bay and the West Duwamish Greenbelt. The arboretum, an important part of their Landscape Horticulture Program, was designed and built by the students.
The American Conifer Society designated it reference garden status because it contains one of the best conifer collections in America.
The Arboretum became a National Wildlife Federation Urban Wildlife Sanctuary in 2012.
The Arboretum, and other parts of the "Hort" program were awarded a "5-Star" Environstar rating in 2010.

It almost goes without saying that this program and the students ROCK !!!