Doane University has been selected as one of 11 recipients of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s (now PlantNebraska) most recent round of community forestry grants, a statewide initiative totaling $1.6 million. The funding, made possible through a larger $10 million allocation from the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry program, supports cities and organizations across Nebraska in expanding local tree canopies.
Doane will receive $142,000 over the next three years, a grant that Brandon Rieschick, Manager of Grounds & Fleet Services, describes as a significant investment in the longevity and health of the campus’s natural landscape.
“Being awarded this grant will help ensure that the Osterhout Arboretum and Doane Campus will continue to be a beautiful and inviting outdoor space for generations to come,” he said. “This will allow us to plant a robust amount of trees that we typically couldn’t afford to do.”
The funding will primarily support large-scale maintenance and renewal efforts. According to Rieschick, the university has identified about 70 damaged or wounded trees that need to be removed due to age or damage. Over the course of the grant period, which is December 2025 through December 2028, the grounds team plans to replace those removals with approximately 225 newly planted trees, significantly expanding the diversity and health of trees on campus.
In addition to tree removal and replacement, the grant includes resources for pruning to improve the well-being of Doane’s existing trees. The university will also install new signage across campus to highlight the Arboretum and raise awareness of the grant project.
According to Rieschick, the project reflects a strong collaborative effort within the university. He credited staff member Sarah Zulkoski for playing “an integral part throughout the application process.”
Beyond Doane, the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s awards extended to a wide range of communities, including the City of Beatrice, Greenwood Cemetery Association in York, Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare in Omaha, the Village of Arnold, and more. The grants aim to strengthen forestry health across the state.
For Doane, the funding marks both a practical investment and a symbolic commitment to place.
This grant ensures Doane’s outdoor spaces remain healthy and welcoming. Not only is it an investment into campus, it is also going to strengthen the student experience by protecting the outdoor environments that shape the overall sense of place for many generations of students to come.
