Florida Company Wins State's Top Honors for Tree Preservation Project

Castle & Cooke Florida won accolades for a two-year project to relocate and preserve the community’s largest specimen trees. The project was recognized as the state’s “Best Project” for 2008 at the recent Trees Florida conference.

The three-day Trees Florida conference, which ended June 11, was co-sponsored by the Florida Chapter International Society of Arboriculture, the Florida Urban Forestry Council, the Florida Division of Forestry and the University of Florida Extension Service. The annual conference is held each year to allow arborists, landscape architects and tree suppliers to hear about the latest trends and trade current research.

The preservation of Oakland Park’s tree canopy has been a priority of Castle & Cooke since the company acquired the property. One of the majestic live oak trees on the property is estimated to be close to 300 years old. The large specimen trees on the property lend the community a unique character found in few new-home communities.

“The value of some of our trees at Oakland Park is priceless. There is simply no amount of money that you could spend to acquire trees like these,” said John Rinehart, vice president of Castle & Cooke.

Oakland Park has been certified as a green community by the Florida Green Building Coalition, an independent third-party. Additionally, all of the homes to be built in Oakland Park will be required by deed restriction to be certified as “green” by the FGBC.

The trees identified for preservation and/or relocation were selected by a team of arborists and landscape architects from ValleyCrest and Glatting Jackson respectively. The location of some trees required Castle & Cooke to re-design and re-route planned streets within the community in order to leave the trees in place. Other trees selected for relocation underwent a preparation process that lasted occasionally up to six months.

On June 14, 2007, the largest of Oakland Park’s oak trees was relocated. The tree was more than 60 feet tall and weighed in at more than 50 tons. A 300-ton crane was required to lift and move the tree into place. Now in its new home – a quarter-mile from where it sprouted – the tree is thriving, according to Mary L. Edwards, principal arborist with ValleyCrest.

“This project is one of those rare cases where everything comes together,” Edwards said. “It is an outstanding piece of property with some of the most beautiful trees you can find in Florida – combined with a team of developers and landscape professionals with a passion and commitment to preserve these trees. The results will be enjoyed by people for generations to come.”

To reach Oakland Park, take Plant Street west from State Road 429. Follow Plant Street through downtown Winter Garden until it becomes Oakland Avenue. Go past Tildenville School Road. The sales center is on the right.  Additional information is available by calling 407/905-5667 or visiting www.oaklandpark1844.com