News
Large Trees to Be Planted in Woodward Park
ARCHIVED PRESS RELEASE: Published 12-9-2011
Renovation and beautification efforts at Tulsa's Woodward Park
continue next week with the delivery of 15 large trees for planting
in the park on Monday and Tuesday.
Trees up to 20 feet tall will be planted on the re-landscaped
portion of the park which underwent stabilization work earlier this
year. Renovations were necessary for the safety of park visitors
because the soils and large boulders on the park's scenic slope
facing the intersection of 21st and South Peoria Ave.
had become unstable because of erosion.
Woodward Drive, within park boundaries, will be closed during
part of the day Monday and Tuesday while heavy equipment is used to
move and plant the trees which weigh up to 6,000 pounds each.
Area residents and park users were notified and a public meeting
was held in February to explain the park renovation project and
seek public input.
It was feared that many large trees would be lost. However,
workers were able to save some of the trees that were feared
threatened. Most of the 15 new trees will go into the re-landscaped
area, but some will also be available to plant in other areas of
the park which suffered tree damage during Tulsa's devastating ice
storm.
"These trees are going to be very large and will make an instant
impact to the newly planted azalea area as well as five other
locations in the park," said Maureen Turner, Operations Manager in
the Streets & Stormwater Department. "This final part of the
project is definitely a wonderful gift for the citizens of Tulsa
from the generosity of the Tulsa Beautification
Foundation."
Woodward Park is one of Tulsa's most popular parks and its
wooded acres and gardens are Tulsa icons. The renovated area is one
of the park's most popular features, situated behind the "Appeal to
the Great Spirit statue. The area had been surrounded by orange
fencing, part of it for up to four years, awaiting the repairs.
Turner, who is also a horticulturist, worked with local
nurseries to select new azalea bushes for the area, selecting
varieties with longer blooming times and less insect and disease
problems, replacing azaleas that had grown on the slope for many
years and were past their prime.
