Photos by John McMasters–thank you.
Between 1992 and 1995, Wilmington Island Garden Club planted 135 live oaks and crape myrtles, most of them along Johnny Mercer in the business district. Together with the Island merchants, the Club raised the money, positioned the trees with the help of county arborist Dennis Goldbaugh, and planted them with volunteer labor.
The idea was to replace trees that were removed when the road was widened and to extend into the business district the glorious live oak canopy that covers the northwest end of Johnny Mercer. (It should be noted that when Johnny Mercer was widened, nearly all the live oaks were preserved.) The Club’s efforts saved the county a bundle of time and money beautifying the island for the sailing Olympics. In exchange, the county promised to complete the bike paths on Wilmington Island.
More than 10 years later, the bike paths are still not complete. Some of the new live oaks are 25 feet high.
Since that time, I don’t think any live oak has ever been removed from Johnny Mercer. The contractors who are building the new Enmark station have been careful to preserve the two young live oaks on the county right-of-way in front of that property.
The county needs to plan for the development of Johnny Mercer with one coherent plan and not to do it in bits and pieces as appears to be happening at the moment.
It is not at all clear that a turn lane is needed in this location. Nearby enterprises do not have turn lanes. To reach the church or hairdresser across the street, the strip mall or the insurance agent nearby, you put on your turn signal, slow down, and turn. As far as I know, no accidents have resulted.
Our protest has generated considerable publicity for the cause of saving old live oaks, thanks to the local television stations and the Savannah Morning News. However, there is still no mechanism in place to save these particular trees or others in the future.
Tags: Chatham County · John McMasters · Johnny Mercer · live oaks · Penn Waller · turn lanes2 Comments
2 responses so far ↓
I had no idea the Wilmington Island Garden Club had been so active. I did hear that you all won Georgia Forestry award for tree-planting, but this is special. I would never have thought the live oaks at Village Way were only 15 years old.
I cannot believe the county approved for another gas station to go on the island. The enmark being built is going to be the 5th gas station in a very small area. This is poor planning. We need to save the island as well as the trees!