On September 30th, 2003 the Stanley W. Hayes Research Foundation, Inc., a forty-five year old nature preserve, filed a Petition to Rezone with the Richmond Plan Commission. The petition requested that 33.378 acres of their nature preserve, currently classified as O-1 Greenbelt, be rezoned to Planned Unit Development (PUD) District designation for a commercial development.

The Friends of the Arboretum is a bipartisan group of concerned citizens, environmentalists, scientists, business persons, and professionals assembled to prevent the destruction of this historical, cultural, and natural resource and to provide for the permanent protection, enhancement, and operation of Hayes Arboretum for the benefit of the general welfare of the community, East Central Indiana, and Midwestern United States.

This website serves to provide a virtual archive of information supporting the Friends of the Arboretum position against the proposed commercial development. Please feel free to browse the website. We encourage you to sign the virtual petition. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.