For Immediate Release
Date: December 4, 2013

The City of Savannah on Tuesday began planting the first of more than 100 crape myrtles in the Abercorn Street Median on Savannah’s southside, part of a larger effort to green the southside and restore trees that have been destroyed during various road improvement projects through the years.

The tree planting began Tuesday near Montgomery Cross Road, and will continue over the next week as far south as Tibet Avenue and as far north as DeRenne Avenue.

“Beautifying the medians on Abercorn south of DeRenne is just as important as north of DeRenne, and this is the first step in that process,” said Alderman Tony Thomas, who represents Savannah’s southside. “The trees that have been taken down for progress in the past are being replanted for future generations.”

Over the past few weeks Park and Tree crews have been busy removing old and dead vegetation, and conducting significant site preparation in the Abercorn Median to make way for the trees. The landscaped medians improve the appearance of the roadway and provide a separation between traffic moving in opposite directions.

Crape myrtle trees provide interesting bark appearances year round, brilliant floral color for most of the summer and leaf color in the fall. It is one of the few desirable trees that can survive the harsh environmental conditions of a heavily traveled roadway such as Abercorn. Canopy trees, primarily live oaks, have also been installed on the shoulders of Abercorn, where space allows, to shade portions of the concrete roadways and parking lots.