Bacon Park Forest
The Savannah Tree Foundation became involved with Bacon Park Forest in 1993, when this 50+ acre unique forest was slated to become a set of soccer fields. Through a grassroots advocacy campaign, the foundation helped convince Savannah’s City Council to preserve the park as a passive use natural resource and authorized the Savannah Tree Foundation to proceed with developing a master plan along those guidelines. Since that time, we’ve worked with the city and multiple local & national partners, including Wood + Partners, Georgia Forestry Commission, Robert & Company, and Trail Dynamics to develop this parcel into a recreational park with natural walking trails designed to suit hikers, birders, bikers, walkers and runners with a stunning forested landscape for their varied use.
Status update:
Bi annual forays into the forest help control the invasive species. Check our work calendar for specific days to talk a guided walk in the woods, and pull a few plants too!
In 2012 STF will collaborate with the local ASLA chapter for the betterment of Bacon Park Forest.
Chatham County Projects
In 2007, the Savannah Tree Foundation began to work with Chatham County to help install landscaping in public parks and rights of way. Our work on landscaping projects has resulted in beautiful public places at Mother Matilda Beasley Park (off East Broad Street in downtown Savannah), Westlake Park and Lamarville Park (in Savannah’s Westside), the Julie Backus Smith roundabout at Lake Mayer, and the Placentia Canal near Bonaventure Cemetery and the Talahi Island Median on HWY 80.
Status update:
In 2010-2011, Savannah Tree Foundation will oversee the installation of over 500 trees at a FEMA site reforestation planting to be held at Westlake, and will continue to work on the median landscaping for Highway 80 near Talahi Island.
Spring 2012, new palm trees, red maples and other plants complete a landscaping project on the east side of Skidaway Road across from the Wormsloe entrance on Isle of Hope.
Past Projects
The Savannah Tree Foundation has helped with the following projects:
- Sustainable Fellwood Phase I – identification of canopy trees which could be saved using the techniques of critical root zone protection during construction on this affordable housing redevelopment project led by Melaver, Inc.
- Tim Womick, Trail of Trees presentation at Savannah Chatham County Public Schools