West Lafayette Municipal Nursery

West Lafayette Municipal Nursery

The West Lafayette Municipal Nursery is a growing investment in the city's urban forest and environmental sustainability. Located along IN-26, just west of Purdue University's campus, the 14.7-acre nursery supports the cultivation of trees and native plants for parks, streets and public spaces throughout West Lafayette.

With construction completed in March 2025, the nursery is now operational. Through continued support from the West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Foundation, community partners and donors, the facility will continue to expand its capabilities and serve as a model for sustainable urban forestry.

Project History

The vision for the West Lafayette Municipal Nursery began in 2018 through conversations between Greenspace and Urban Forestry Manager Bryce Patz and local tree advocates. Over the following years, efforts focused on securing funding, identifying suitable land and building community partnerships to bring the project to life.

A major milestone came in January 2022, when the Lucas family donated 14.7 acres to the West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Foundation. This generous contribution provided a permanent home for the nursery and helped move the project toward construction.

With support from the City of West Lafayette and community partners, construction was completed in March 2025, establishing an operational facility dedicated to strengthening the city's green infrastructure.

Project Goals and Community Impact

The West Lafayette Municipal Nursery supports a healthier, more resilient urban landscape by growing trees and native plants for use throughout the community. Its primary goals include:

• Strengthening the urban tree canopy: Growing street trees for parkways, medians and other public spaces to replace trees lost to emerald ash borer, urban conditions and changing weather patterns.
• Restoring natural habitats: Propagating native grasses, wildflowers and other plants for ecological restoration projects, including the oak savanna at Celery Bog Nature Area.
• Beautifying public spaces: Cultivating perennials and shrubs for landscaping at city facilities, parks and public rights-of-way.
• Supporting long-term sustainability: Establishing a reliable local source of trees and native plants to improve biodiversity and strengthen West Lafayette's green spaces for future generations.

Help the Nursery Grow

While the West Lafayette Municipal Nursery is operational, opportunities remain to expand its capabilities and support its long-term success.

The West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Foundation continues to welcome donations and community partnerships to help provide equipment, improve operations and support the nursery's ongoing development.

Current equipment and improvement needs include:

• Picnic table
• Tractor attachment
• Mini skid steer for transporting trees

Every contribution helps the nursery grow stronger and supports a greener, healthier West Lafayette.

Interested in supporting the nursery? Contact the Foundation at info@wlfoundation.org to learn more about sponsorship and equipment donation opportunities, or make a general donation today.

A Special Thank You

West Lafayette Parks and Recreation and the West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Foundation extend their sincere gratitude to the Lucas family for their generous land donation, which made the West Lafayette Municipal Nursery possible.

We also recognize the organizations whose support helped bring this project to life:

• West Lafayette Redevelopment Commission
• West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Foundation
• West Lafayette Parks and Recreation Board
• Roy Whistler Foundation
• West Lafayette Tree Friends

Through their generosity and commitment to environmental stewardship, these partners have helped establish a lasting resource that will strengthen West Lafayette's urban forest and natural spaces for generations to come.