Discover secret gardens inside the Kantzler Memorial Arboretum

This article is part of an ongoing #InspiringGenerosity series highlighting people, agencies, and programs the Bay Area Community Foundation supports.

If you’re looking for a peaceful sanctuary to soak up the late summer sun, consider taking a walk through the Kantzler Memorial Arboretum.

Inside the 12-acre botanical garden – located across from the Bay County Community Center, 800 John F. Kennedy Drive – you can stroll on paved paths or sit on benches to enjoy the view of more than 100 trees and more than 30 pocket gardens, plus butterflies, birds, and squirrels. 

If you make your way to a scenic overlook of the Saginaw River, you can see Uptown Bay City on the East Side and the remains of shipwrecks just under the water. If you’re lucky, a freighter will glide past.

The Arboretum was created in the 1970s. Its first grant of $7,000 came from the Kantzler Foundation. In 1978 and 1979, workers built walkways, protected the shore, and created a plaza and entrance. 

Later, the historic Trombley Centre House moved into the Arboretum. The 21-mile Bay Area Riverwalk and RailTrail was built. The paved path follows the West Bank of the Saginaw River, including the Arboretum.

As it approaches its 50th anniversary, the Arboretum is getting some much-needed maintenance work and seeing beautification efforts.

“It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago, but 50 years on anything at all, there’s got to be some maintenance. Maintenance is good money spent,” says Jerry Somalski, President of Bay City in Bloom.

Bay City in Bloom has worked with the city for several years to maintain and improve the Arboretum.

The partnership began in 2020 when Bay City Garden Club members took an interest in working on the Arboretum. At the same time, an organization named Bay City in Bloom was disbanding. 

The Garden Club members decided the Bay City in Bloom organization was a good fit.

“Bay City in Bloom was all about beautification of the city and a lot of that worked perfectly with what the Garden Club wanted to do in the Arboretum,” says Somalski, who owns Bay Landscaping. 

“We decided it fit. All we needed to do is focus on the Arboretum now and, later on, if we’re successful, we can go on and do further things.”

Today, Bay City in Bloom is linked to the Bay City Garden Club, Valley Garden Club, and the City of Bay City. 

The city expands what Bay City in Bloom can do, and Bay City in Bloom expands what the city can do, Somalski says. For example, some grants are only available to governments, while others are exclusively for not-for-profit organizations.

“It’s a good area to embellish a little bit and make a little bit more user friendly. With the river as a back drop, it is awfully nice.”

Jerry Somalski, Bay City in Bloom President

“Together, we open up to more funds,” he says.

The city also provides services such as engineering and construction management when Bay City in Bloom proposes a project.

“They’re ensuring that it’s done correctly and appropriately and will stand the test of time.”

Improvements at the Arboretum are ongoing. A few years ago, a kiosk was added to the entrance, including panels explaining what you’ll see throughout the Arboretum. Over time, the team has added pocket gardens, repaired the sidewalks, and created a scenic overlook of the Saginaw River.

“We planned to do some irrigation renovations later, but the pump just gave up the ghost,” Somalski says. “We, along with the Bay Area Community Foundation, and other people, raised enough money to re-work the irrigation system.”

The pump draws water from the Davidson Dry Dock into the Arboretum, allowing gardeners to keep the plants hydrated and growing. 

If you have an interest in those pocket gardens, you’re in luck. Somalski says a few gardens have opened up. 

You might think of gardening as a spring activity, but Somalski points out there’s important work to be done now. 

“You can take them over and start maintaining and prepping the soil, planting bulbs this fall for next spring,” he says. “The garden are really a reflection of the owners, what they want to do and what they want to see.”

Businesses, families, individuals, and organizations all plant and maintain the pocket gardens. The time investment is up to each organization.

Bay City in Bloom asks for a three-year commitment, but gardeners can do what they want in those three years. Click here to learn more about sponsoring a garden.

“Most use perennials and woody plants. It takes a couple years for them to take off and start performing the way you’d like,” he says.

Work at the Arboretum is far from done.

Right now, the organization is adding illumination and shade sails to the scenic overlook. Somalski hopes the lighting attracts the attention of people at Uptown, inspiring them to come explore the Arboretum.

“Next is re-grouping and figuring out what the next step should be,” Somalski says.

“In the next phase, we may add new things to the park. There’s nowhere along the Riverwalk and RailTrail to get out of the weather. We’re looking at a pavilion to help. Then, if there are activities at the arboretum and it’s a rain out, you can sneak away and have someplace to get out of the weather.”

The area would work for acoustic entertainers or wedding parties too, he says.

Additional maintenance is also needed to keep the Arboretum a highlight of the community.

“In the plaza area, the bricks have begun to fail. We need repair work there,” he says.  “It’s a good area to embellish a little bit and make a little bit more user friendly. With the river as a back drop, it is awfully nice.”