Local Arborists Receive Key to the City

Kearney residents Lanny and Sue Rawdon were recognized by the City of Kearney for their extensive work planting trees, shrubs and flowers at Jesse James Park. The city named the planted areas in the park the Lanny and Sue Rawdon Arboretum.

Lanny proposed starting an arboretum in Jesse James Park to the City of Kearney in 2010. The city agreed and authorized him to work with staff to develop a planting grid that would not interfere with other park activities.

Since Lanny Rawdon’s proposal to the city in 2010, the Rawdons have earned statewide recognition for their work in Jesse James Park

He laid out a plan to start the arboretum along a 1.5 mile section of trail in the park, and since then they have planted over 1000 trees and woody plants. His only assistant has been his wife, Sue, who has also bucketed water to the plantings.

The city has supplied of some weed control chemicals, but almost all of the plants were donated to the arboretum by Lanny and Sue. In recent years, the city has paid for some tree spading of larger trees, and reimbursed some of tree and shrub invoices. 

“Lanny and many thousands of hours of labor, donation of plant material and his sharing of expertise as an arborist makes him a prized asset to the Kearney and Holt communities,” remarked Mayor Randy Pogue.

Since his proposal to the city in 2010, the Rawdons have earned statewide recognition for their work in Jesse James Park. They have planted and nurtured over 1000 trees, woody plants, and perennials to make a natural arboretum. In recognition for their hard work, the city wanted to make the space officially known as the Lanny and Sue Rawdon Arboretum.

In 2018 the Missouri Department of Conservation presented the Rawdons with the Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence for improving Missouri communities through stewardship of community forests, and specifically for their achievements in Jesse James Park.

A resolution was prepared as well as a video of some of the trees and plant life that Lanny and Sue have planted over the years. They were also presented with the resolution from the city, an official Key to the City and framed copy of the Excellence Award from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story