Save the 500-Year-Old Benton Oak!

The Issue

Please re-route a road and holding pond around one of the largest and healthiest oak trees in Leon County, "The Benton Oak."  The oak is in the back yard of Mr. Morris Benton, Sr., now deceased, a resident of the Boynton-Still neighborhood in South Tallahassee that was demolished to make room for a road and retention pond.  Measuring 76" in diameter, this tree is in the top 10% of large oaks in Leon County, and could easily be 500 years old.  Our Environmental Land Use Code, section 5:12 "Exceptional Specimen" should be enforced to protect it, as well as five others that are almost as large. 

Re-route the road to save this and other oaks and what's left of the neighborhood.  The land and trees could easily be turned into a small park for residents who wish to use the outdoor space.  Do The Right Thing.  

avatar of the starter
Save Historic Structures & Heritage TreesPetition StarterFacebook administrator for group, "Save Historic Structures and Heritage Trees." Director of non-profit group, "Cross-Cultural Coalition of South Side Tallahassee, Inc." Retired Humanities Professor at FAMU.

37,940

The Issue

Please re-route a road and holding pond around one of the largest and healthiest oak trees in Leon County, "The Benton Oak."  The oak is in the back yard of Mr. Morris Benton, Sr., now deceased, a resident of the Boynton-Still neighborhood in South Tallahassee that was demolished to make room for a road and retention pond.  Measuring 76" in diameter, this tree is in the top 10% of large oaks in Leon County, and could easily be 500 years old.  Our Environmental Land Use Code, section 5:12 "Exceptional Specimen" should be enforced to protect it, as well as five others that are almost as large. 

Re-route the road to save this and other oaks and what's left of the neighborhood.  The land and trees could easily be turned into a small park for residents who wish to use the outdoor space.  Do The Right Thing.  

avatar of the starter
Save Historic Structures & Heritage TreesPetition StarterFacebook administrator for group, "Save Historic Structures and Heritage Trees." Director of non-profit group, "Cross-Cultural Coalition of South Side Tallahassee, Inc." Retired Humanities Professor at FAMU.

The Decision Makers

City Commission
City Commission
Mayor John Dailey
County Commission
County Commission
Rick Minor

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Petition created on July 11, 2019