Arboretum
The Oberlin Arboretum—“The Arb,” colloquially—is a little woodsy area around the reservoir only a few minutes walk away from south campus. The easiest entrance is on Morgan Street, where you'll see an old red building, a water tower, and a strange circular stone structure in front of the reservoir and some woods. The arb is most thoroughly enjoyed by the beshroomed among us.
[edit] History
From the Oberlin Heritage Center:
The Oberlin Arboretum got its start when OC purchased the 17-acre 'Ladies' Grove' in 1892 in order to develop it as a nature preserve. The grove was considered one of the only places appropriate for women to walk and enjoy nature. Wealthy OC alum Charles Hall bought 77 acres of the property surrounding the grove in order to realize a full-fledged arboretum. He presented it to OC, and in his will, left a fund to maintain the property outlining his hopes that the Arboretum remain free of buildings and athletic fields, to be developed as a nature preserve for both the town and OC. The will has been a source of contention ever since. For example, the College leases a large chunk of Hall's purchase to the private Oberlin Golf Club. Consequently, the Arboretum encompasses only about 60 acres of the roughly 100 originally planned. Still, the Arboretum has become a fixture in the lives of both the college and the town.
[edit] Opinions
it's not a bad stroll, but it's depressing when you realize that it's the nicest walk to take in Oberlin, and it's really not that great. The woodsy part is typically pretty wet because nothing ever dries out here (the shocking result of building a town on top of wetlands), and there's too much old beer bottles type suburban litter. --jkimmel 19:09, 15 Oct 2005 (CDT)
The arb is a lovely place for a walk, picnic, &c. I enjoy it thoroughly on any possible occasion. --Harris 14:32, 6 June 2007 (EDT)
It's green. --Tevi 15:07, 6 June 2007 (EDT)
It's a great place to stargaze. --Cyan 15:09, 6 June 2007 (EDT)
You're not really supposed to swim in the ponds there, but the people who live in the ponds don't really seem to mind. If you want to play it safe, swim at night. --person
