Orange County launches OC Loves Tree program and plants 'Demings Oak' at Great Oaks Village

Orange County officials onstage at Great Oaks Village marked National Arbor Day by launching the "OC Loves Tree" program and planting a commemorative "Demings Oak," officials said, as part of county efforts to protect and expand urban tree canopy.

"This is fabulous," Jeff Williamson, communications director for Orange County government, said as he welcomed attendees and introduced the event. Mayor Jerry El Demings told the audience the county has taken concrete steps to preserve trees during development and expand canopy, saying, "In September of 2023, the board of county commissioners adopted a new awardwinning arbor ordinance that provides a better protection to trees during development and prioritizes adding new trees to the county's urban canopy." He added the county has "doubled the number of arborists" to enforce the rules and is developing an urban forest master plan to set measurable goals and prioritize canopy expansion.

The event included the formal launch of OC Loves Tree. The presenter identified in the transcript as Tanya described the initiative as a countywide planting effort that "seeks to ignite a love affair for trees" and said it will involve planting hundreds of native trees, with "a blitz of approximately 500 trees starting this year." The presenter also referred to a CDBGR grant to support a five-year "resilient neighborhoods" tree-planting plan and said mitigation fees collected from developers are being reinvested back into the community to support planting and canopy preservation.

Ben Thomas, director of community and family services, framed the planting at Great Oaks Village as both symbolic and practical. "For more than 100 years, Great Oaks Village ... has served thousands of children and families across Orange County," Thomas said, adding that "each year, approximately 300 young people call Great Oaks Village home" and that the site is supported by about "roughly 80 public servants" on staff. The county identified the planted tree as the "Demings Oak," a living tribute to Mayor Demings' long association with Great Oaks Village and his public service.

Officials or staff members called forward county leaders and community partners to place shovels in the soil. Organizers counted seven shovels for the group planting. Alan Marshall, the county's environmental policy coordinator, noted the selected live oak "will live for 3 to 600 years" and is expected to tower over nearby laurel oaks as it matures.

County remarks emphasized the multiple expected benefits of increased canopy: reduced urban heat, improved air quality, wildlife habitat, and neighborhood economic value. Officials tied the planting program to recent policy changes, saying developers must now preserve mature, ecologically significant trees, replant more trees than they remove, or pay higher mitigation fees, which the county is using to fund new plantings and resources.

The ceremony at Great Oaks Village combined the program launch with community recognition: staff, elected officials and the Great Oaks Village board participated in the planting and dedication. The recorded portion of the event ended with music and the planting ceremony.

The county provided the program description and the planting target at the ceremony; officials said the county is preparing further action plans and an urban forest master plan to set measurable goals and guide implementation.