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Commission approves NEST plan to plant 28 green buttonwood trees in Bryant Park playground area
Summary
Volunteers with Neighbors Encouraging Shade Trees (NEST) presented a Phase 3 plan to install 28 native green buttonwood 25‑gallon trees around the Wellness Walk and South Bryant Park playground; the commission approved the planting 4–1 after debating whether to use smaller, higher‑survivability specimens or fewer, larger trees for quicker canopy.
Neighbors Encouraging Shade Trees (NEST) requested commission approval for Phase 3 of a multi‑year Bryant Park shade plan: installation of 28 native green buttonwood 25‑gallon trees (14 along the Wellness Walk and 14 around the playground) to provide additional shade for exercise areas and playground users.
Gail Silverblatt and Tracy Ross Peterson described the site selection process, cited University of Florida IFAS guidance that 25‑gallon transplants can establish more reliably in compacted, salty soils with limited irrigation, and provided a vendor quote of $13,167 for delivery, installation, staking, mulch, fertilization and a tree professional on call. Staff and tree‑board members said the 25‑gallon green buttonwood is salt‑tolerant, reaches maturity in 3–5 years and achieves a canopy spread suitable for the park.
Commissioners debated planting strategy; some favored larger 100‑gallon specimens near the playground to provide shade sooner, while others argued smaller 25‑gallon trees survive better in the park’s soils and allow more plantings for the same budget. After public testimony in support of the NEST plan, the commission approved Phase 3 by a 4–1 vote and asked staff to align future residential landscape rules with public‑park plantings where appropriate.
