Know A Historic Or Significant Tree In Your Neighborhood? Fort Worth Could Give It 'Heritage' Status

Arlington TX

02 May, 2022

7:02 PM

Description

By Haley Samsel, Fort Worth Report May 2, 2022 Just under the U.S. 820 bridge carrying passengers over Lake Worth in west Fort Worth, a massive tree sits near the waterfront. The live oak – the largest on the lake – is named after George T. Reynolds, a pioneer and cattle baron who once owned the land that is now Arrow S Park. The tree is one of more than 50 to earn "heritage" status from the city, which created its heritage tree program in 2009. Fort Worth has a long history with urban forestry and protecting trees, said Hannah Johnson, a natural scientist supervisor for Fort Worth's parks and recreation department. The city declared it illegal to hitch a horse to a tree in 1873 and hired its first arborist in the 1920s. "There's a longstanding tradition of caring for trees," Johnson said, gesturing toward the Lake Worth Indian Marker, another heritage tree located at the park. "It's great that we have a municipal tree ordinance, but we also want to celebrate these old magnificent trees that are spread throughout Fort Worth." To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.