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Gwen B. Giles Park Tree Planting
October 30, 2021 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Gwen B. Giles Park is situated at the start of the proposed Hodiamont Tracks Greenway project.
The park primarily serves the residents of the West End Neighborhood. The park has a scant 12% tree canopy coverage, leaving the recently installed walking path in full sun.
Although the park boasts some beautiful, mature trees, after inspection by our staff forester, we noticed that there are several in the beginning stages of decline, mainly due to old age. This is normal for any park, and the reason why young trees are vital to a continued healthy urban forest system.
Twelve (12) new shade trees will be interspersed with the existing canopy on the southwest side of the park in clusters of 3 per species, and planted to avoid blocking the beloved sledding hill or baseball field. An alleé of fourteen (14) oaks will line the walking path at a distance of 15 feet. This will allow further park renovations as needed in the future. Several redbuds will also be added for their spring beauty and at least one catalpa will be restored to the park. Gwen B. Giles Park was formerly known as Catalpa Park.
We invite you to learn more about the tree species selected by clicking on their names below. If you visit the park during the month of October, you will see signs placed for each of the proposed tree locations. We encourage you to leave any comment that you may have about their placement in the park by emailing hello@moreleaf.org.
The trees are being sponsored by MetLife and the Arbor Day Foundation. Employees from MetLife will dig the holes and plant the trees between 9-11am.
Neighbors are invited out to celebrate the tree planting at the FALL TREE FESTIVAL, immediately following the planting on October 30th. From 11am-1pm, a tree scavenger hunt and other fall-themed activities will fill the park. Free food, drinks and prizes will be given away thanks to generous support from the Great Rivers Greenway Foundation.
The Gwen B. Giles Park planting list includes the following tree species:
Species Qty
American sycamore 3
Bur oak 3
Kentucky coffeetree 3
Osage orange 3
Chinkapin oak 2
Nuttall oak 5
Overcup oak 3
Shumard oak 4
Catalpa 1-3
Eastern redbud 5
