The arboretum had been a part of the plans for the university from its beginnings but nothing had been done until Frank Kulfinski, professor of Environmental Sciences, suggested that it was time to start.

Following Myer's death that August, the SIU Board of Trustees named the arboretum in his honor, and Kulfinski became its first director.

[3] In the ensuing years, the tree collection was broadened and diversified, and the arboretum saw much use as both an educational tool and as a recreational destination for the SIUE community.

In 2003, the Missouri Botanical Gardens' president Dr. Peter Raven created the Metro-east Outreach Advisory Committee, chaired by SIUE alumnus Ralph Korte and directed with discovering ways to amplify the Missouri Botanical Gardens' image in the Metro East region.

In May of the same year, Rita Hardy donated a set of wind sculptures to The Gardens, and in September, The Hardy Family Wind Forest was dedicated at a "Garden Party" attended by more than 200 guests and featuring comments by Raven and SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandergrift.

[5] On September 1, 2014, the directorship of The Gardens was added to the duties of James Pennekamp, special assistant to the chancellor for Regional Economic Development and executive director of University Park at SIUE.