PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PAUL WEBSTER ARBORETUM … Pictured are several trees at Recreation Park in Bryan that are part of the city’s arboretum. At its meeting on Monday, June 1, Bryan City Council agreed to rename the arboretum after former Bryan High School biology teacher Paul Webster, who helped form the city’s tree commission.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
Bryan City Council agreed to rename its arboretum as the Paul Webster Arboretum honoring the former high school biology teacher at its council meeting on Monday, June 1.
Webster was a biology teacher at Bryan High School for 30 years and served as an original member of the Bryan Tree Commission. His efforts helped allow Bryan to become a Tree City U.S.A. member, and he served as Bryan Tree Day chairman in 1997.
“Paul was a very integral part and actually the guy that started the Bryan Tree Commission and served on it for a very long time,” said Bryan Parks and Recreation Director Ben Dominique. “We would like to honor him by naming this arboretum after him.”
The arboretum, which is located at Recreation Park on Newdale Drive, consists of about 50 different species of trees around the soccer fields.
Dominique added that the tree commission has worked hard to put this arboretum together and get it established.
“The next step would be hopefully name it after Paul and then continue to grow the arboretum as we move forward,” said Dominique.
He is hoping to add signage to the area in the future honoring Webster for his commitment to Tree City U.S.A. of Bryan where he served as chairman of the Bryan Tree Commission.
“Knowing his reputation as an educator at Bryan High School, this is a really nice move, a good way to honor him and his name and his accomplishments,” said Councilman Stephen Alspaugh.
“It’s extremely relevant and important and an outstanding move,” said Councilman John Betts, who was one of Webster’s biology students in high school.
Betts also jokingly asked whether the signs, once erected, would include “Bug Coach” under Webster’s name.
Webster, who passed away on July 27, 2012, at the age of 88, was also honored as the Bryan Area Foundation Good Citizen in 1988 and served as grand marshal of the Bryan Jubilee Parade in 2010.
Dominique also said the city’s website has an interactive map featuring the arboretum and which trees are included.
“It’ll show you pictures of the trees and stuff like that,” Dominique said. “There’s still some things we may advance with that, as far as memorial trees and things like that.”
Also in attendance at the meeting were city tree commission members Dennis Harrison and Helene Moog, city arborist April Smith along with Webster’s daughter Paige Potts and her husband K.C. Potts.
In other council business:
— Authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for a project to resurface part of State Route 2, including three culvert replacements at no cost to the city.
— Approved having Police Chief Greg Ruskey give a civil service test for a full-time dispatcher. He said there is an opening due to a recent resignation, and the previous list of applicants has been exhausted.
— Went into an executive session with the city attorney to discuss pending or imminent court action. No action was taken.
Next council meeting is Monday, June 15 at 5:30 p.m.