Rady Park Arboretum was established in 1999 by Fauquier County Master Gardeners under the guidance of Virginia Cooperative Extension. The Arboretum is uniquely situated within a 7-acre public park located on the northwest edge of Warrenton, and it is planned and maintained by volunteers as a demonstration garden project. The mission statement of the Arboretum project is to showcase underutilized trees and shrubs as alternatives to commonly-used landscape plants, with an emphasis on native plants.

Although the Arboretum’s focus is on trees, there are numerous beds and garden settings that feature underplantings with many native Virginia herbaceous plants. All woody plants are labeled with both their common and Latin names as well as their region of origin. QR codes on these labels direct the visitor to the Arboretum website, https://www.plantsmap.com/organizations/rady-park-arboretum,  where more information is provided for each plant. Garden settings include benches that encourage longer enjoyment of the park. A bordering creek creates diverse habitats for plants, as well as animals & insects, which qualifies the Arboretum for the “Audubon at Home” Wildlife Sanctuary certification.