New Nashville Downtown Arboretum showcases urban trees

How it works: The arboretum will be managed by the nonprofit group the Nashville Downtown Partnership in collaboration with the Nashville Department of Transportation.

• QR codes near more than 110 trees will offer passersby the chance to learn about more than 50 tree species represented in the downtown area.
• Details on the project are also available on the arboretum's website.

Zoom out: The project was years in the making and reflects the city's broader efforts to grow and sustain the tree canopy.

• "Our urban tree canopy provides visual proof that we can grow responsibly, sustainably, and preserve this critical form of infrastructure," Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said. "I can't wait for Nashvillians to experience it."

Go deeper: Vanderbilt University's lush campus is also recognized as an arboretum. It is home to more than 6,000 trees and shrubs spread across 300-plus acres.