NORTH PORT – A live oak tree believed to be 100 years old was relocated to its new home near the banks of an 80-acre excavated lake in Wellen Park Tuesday, courtesy of workers from Houston, Texas-based Environmental Design, who started the custom moving process 18 months ago.
The 800-foot move will allow the tree, which has a diameter of 96 inches, to become a showpiece and provide immediate shade for people visiting the lake, which is being crafted as the heart of Downtown Wellen Town Center.
The $1 million tree relocation effort includes 26 trees in all.
The process involves pruning back roots to define a root ball for each tree.