OPINION: Save our precious trees in Sarasota
In our neighborhood of Arlington Park, we have watched with little recourse as developers tear down beautiful, tall trees to make room for more homes. Neighbors, arborists, environmentalists and our city staff stand by helplessly, some turning a blind eye, as money for cleared lots and million–dollar houses takes precedence over simple trees – some of which have been here for a century or more.
Just east of Floyd Street and Shade Avenue in Sarasota, a majestic Grand Oak tree estimated to be well over 200 years old may soon be lost. Today it stands tall and spreads wide over two lots with a pink ribbon around its base – and a tree permit waiting in the wings so that a developer can have it taken down.
This tree, affectionately called “Pink Floyd” by the locals, has been an icon in this neighborhood. Several of its siblings on the same property also have pink ribbons around them. The property is currently under contract, and it will be potentially divided into five individual lots – Pink Floyd spans over two of those lots.
Our state laws won’t protect it. Our city and county laws can’t protect it. Yet I wonder: At what point do sacred trees deserve our voice and our protection?
These trees are home to a multitude of living things; several species, including owls, hawks, raccoons, squirrels and birds, depend on oak trees for food sources and protection. But these trees support more than just wildlife – they also are home to epiphytes (air plants) and many beneficial insects.
Sadly these precious trees are quickly dwindling in Sarasota to make way for more development. You don’t have to go far to see large swaths of land clear cut with no thought of preservation. This drive to continually prioritize high-dollar homes and developments over the needs of the community – and the planet – seems both short-sighted and disastrous.
Just imagine Pink Floyd as a tiny sapling more than 200 years ago when Indians lived and fished in the area – and when European settlers began to make their way here from other places. Just imagine how this tree began to gradually grow with time, providing shade and witness to those who would call this place home.
Should it survive so many years just to be cut down to the ground for a house – a simple house that will stand on the hallowed ground that this tree currently resides on?
But now imagine if we were to save this ancient tree, and allow it to offer shade, comfort and more for generations to follow. Imagine grandparents telling their grandchildren stories about the tree, and looking up to see birds nesting and creatures thriving in it.
Unfortunately, Sarasota does not have a great track record for saving its historical legacy. But I believe it’s not too late: We the citizens of Sarasota and Sarasota County must say that enough is enough; otherwise, money, greed and "progress for the sake of progress” will be the downfall of this area.
We must make our voices heard.
Currently, state law strips local governments of their ability to easily protect these assets. But couldn't money be raised to buy the lots? Couldn't the city of Sarasota step in and create a protected park, even if the owner-to-be were willing to sell? Couldn't that same owner come to the realization that there is more than one solution to building on that property?
Given our current state of affairs regarding the protection of these heritage trees, saving them may rely on the benevolence of the owner/developer, the creativity of an architect who can work with the trees and the willingness of the city to show that it cares what happens to them.
Mary Boutieller is a former assistant chief of the Sarasota County Fire Department. She is a founding member of the group Preserve Arlington Park.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota must act now to save our precious trees
