James Pass Arboretum

The James Pass Arboretum was established by the City of Syracuse, New York through the philanthropy of Adelaide Salisbury Pass and family with the guidance and cooperation of the State College of Forestry (now SUNY-ESF) to be a classic arboretum in the tradition of the Arnold Arboretum in Boston MA, that is, a museum of woody plants designed for education and horticultural display.The arboretum is located in Syracuse, New York on the western edge of Tipperary Hill on the city's Far Westside and is bounded by South Avery Avenue on the east, Tompkins Street on the north, and Salisbury Road on the south. The western boundary is Sacred Heart Cemetery in the town of Geddes and the northern side of the park also borders Myrtle Hill Cemetery.HistoryOn March 22, 1925, Syracuse Mayor John Henry Walrath announced the gift of land consisting of 12.1 acres, adjacent to Burnet Park by Adelaide Pass and family. The land would be used as a municipal arboretum and named for Mrs. Pass' late husband James Pass. A deed of conveyance was drawn and executed on April 27, 1925 and recorded on August 12, 1925. Mrs. Pass insisted upon certain conditions to that conveyance including:I) That it be known as “THE JAMES PASS ARBORETUM”II) That it be developed according to plans prepared by the State College of Forestry and on file in the office of the Planning, Parks and Recreation Commission of the City of Syracuse and that it be maintained as such Arboretum.