Winter Park plants trees to honor centenarians

Winter Park is planting a new policy rooted in honoring the city’s oldest residents.

City Commissioners gave the green light during their June 22 meeting for the Citizens Century Collection Recognition Policy – an ongoing service that will honor 100-year-old Winter Park residents with trees planted in their name.

The trees will be paid for by the city and include a temporary honoree tag, as well as a dedication ceremony for the honored resident, who must be at least a 25-year resident of Winter Park.

“Several months ago the subject came up of how to honor the long-livers we have in Winter Park,” Parks and Recreation Director John Holland said. “We thought this was very appropriate.”

“When someone turns 100 years old, they are honored through putting a tree of their request in a park.”

Residents also have the chance to choose the species of their tree, choosing between Live Oak, Tabebuia, Sweet Gum, Magnolia Grandiflora, Red Bud, Cypress and Chaste trees. Other species can be requested, but have to be approved by the city.

Century-old citizens will have a GPS location of their tree posted on the city website as well.

Holland told the City Commission that Central Park or Martin Luther King Park could have a designated area for the Citizen Century trees, though residents can still have their tree planted in whatever park they wish.

The collection of trees could resemble the cluster of Cherry Blossoms seen in Washington, D.C., he said.

“We’re hoping to have somewhat of a grove or collection,” Holland said.

But City Commissioners were hesitant to designate an area for the trees just yet.

City Commissioner Tom McMacken supported the policy as long as trees in Central Park wouldn’t interfere with the annual art festival or other events, while Commissioner Carolyn Cooper said she was concerned about the grove eventually getting too big.

“By stipulating in your policy Central Park or Martin Luther King Park, you may get to a place where it becomes a friction,” Cooper said. “You may get to a point where you don’t want to put anymore.”

The City Commission voted to establish an official grove site on a later date, but still approve the Citizen Century policy.

Mayor Steve Leary said the trees are a worthy tribute to the city’s oldest Winter Parkers.

“What’s great about it to me is that it combines two things the city is known for: our commitment to the environment through trees and how we handle our elderly and provide services,” Leary said.

“They’ve given so much to us so it’s great that we can honor them in such a way that’s true to Winter Park.”

City spokesperson Clarissa Howard said that one resident has already taken the city up on the new policy, planting their tree at the mini park located at the corner of Sunset Drive and Chestnut Avenue.