Leila Arboretum

Leila Arboretum is a botanical garden in Battle Creek featuring thousands of trees and shrubs arranged in patterns inspired by European garden design. The grounds include paved roads and walking trails that wind through multiple planted areas organized by plant type.

The land was purchased in the 1920s by a wealthy widow who donated it to Battle Creek for development as a public botanical garden. This gift transformed the property into the community's major green space.

The name honors the founder whose vision shaped this green space into a place where people walk and sit among carefully organized plant collections. Visitors naturally gather in open areas and follow the garden's layout, using it as a peaceful retreat within their community.

The grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset with no entry fee required. Visitors should wear good walking shoes since the property includes both flat areas and wooded sections with varied terrain.

A natural history museum and planetarium operate within the garden grounds, offering visitors educational exhibits alongside the plant collections. This combination makes it a destination for learning about both nature and astronomy.