1914 Pine Grove and the Memorial Drive Trees

1914 Pine Grove and the Memorial Drive Trees. . , Throughout Forest Park you will find several Eastern White Pines (Pinus strobus L.) tree groves, which provide shelter and food for the park's animal residents. The largest and oldest pine grove is located here. In 1914, 2,500 pine trees were planted after the American Chestnut blight killed 15,000 chestnut trees in the park., The Eastern White Pine is the largest conifer and most valuable tree of the Northeast. The trees produce seeds for songbirds and homes for cavity nesters. Small mammals brows on the foliage and bark. These groves also support a rich community of breeding birds. During the winter months, look up in the trees for owls or comb the forest floor for their pellets., The Restoration of the Pine Grove , Throughout the years storms and other natural disturbances caused many of the pine trees to die. Native hardwood trees and invasive non-native plants began to grow in their place. Council Member Eric A. Ulrich dedicated funds to restore this grove, which included an assessment, inventory, soil amendments as well as pruning and planting of new pine trees. These new trees were dedicated in May 2017, as a tribute to our local veterans who defended our country., Memorial Drive Trees , On Armistice Day in 1923, a ceremony was held where 70 trees were planted along both sides of the park drive to honor the soldiers and sailors from Richmond Hill and Woodhaven who died in World War I (1914-1918). Each tree was surrounded by an ornamental guard bearing a bronze name plate. The event also included a dedication and road renaming for Memorial Drive. More than 3,000 people attended this ceremony, one of the largest gatherings in Forest Park at this time.