Old Forest Arboretum of Overton Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Forest Arboretum of Overton Park
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Tennessee
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| Location | Memphis, Tennessee |
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| Built | 1900 |
| Architect | Kessler, George E. |
| Part of | Overton Park Historic District (ID79002475) |
| Added to NRHP | October 25, 1979 |
The Old Forest Arboretum of Overton Park is a large forest area in Overton Park, Memphis, Tennessee. It covers 172 acres and is like a natural museum for trees. You can visit it every day for free.
This forest was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's recognized as an important historical place. In 1997, people started identifying the trees. By 2002, about 70 different kinds of trees were found, and it officially became an arboretum.
Today, the arboretum has walking trails. There are 49 markers that help you identify 32 different tree species. In 2011, about three-quarters of the arboretum became the Old Forest State Natural Area. This gives it extra protection.
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History of the Old Forest Arboretum
The Old Forest was saved when Overton Park was created in 1901. The city of Memphis bought a large piece of land. They decided to keep 172 acres of the original forest. This forest had many old oak and hickory trees.
In 1912, people described the forest as amazing. They said it had "more than thirty kinds of native timber." It also had "rare wild plants, vines, grasses and flowers." They thought it was a perfect place for children to explore nature.
Studying the Forest's Plants
From 2008 to 2009, a plant expert named Dr. Tom Heineke studied the Old Forest. He was hired to make a list of all the plants there.
He found some very large trees. These included a huge black cherry tree. There was also a big southern red oak and a giant shumard oak. He even found a pawpaw tree.
Dr. Heineke recorded 332 different kinds of flowering plants. Most of these plants (three-quarters) were native to the area. He suggested removing plants that don't belong there. These are called exotic species, like Chinese privet and Japanese honeysuckle. They can harm the native plants by taking their space and resources.
Becoming a State Natural Area
On June 8, 2011, Governor Bill Haslam signed a special bill. This bill made 126 acres of the Old Forest an official Tennessee State Natural Area. This was Tennessee's 82nd State Natural Area.
The Natural Areas Program helps protect special places. These areas are often managed by different groups, not just the state. The original plan was to protect 142 acres. But 14 acres next to the Memphis Zoo were removed from the protected area. This was done to help with plans from the Memphis Mayor and Zoo officials.
Threats to the Old Forest
The Old Forest has faced some challenges over the years. People have worked hard to protect it.
Saving the Forest from a Highway
In the 1960s, there were plans to build Interstate 40 through Memphis. This highway would have destroyed 26 acres of the Old Forest. It would also have separated the Memphis Zoo from the rest of Overton Park.
A group of people called the Citizens to Preserve Overton Park (CPOP) worked to save the forest. They fought against the highway plans. In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision. They ruled that the Old Forest should be saved from the highway. In 1987, the land that was going to be used for the highway was given back to the City of Memphis.
Zoo Expansion Concerns
In 2008, the Memphis Zoo cleared about 4 acres of the Old Forest. This was to make space for a new exhibit called Teton Trek. This action worried many people. It led to the Citizens to Preserve Overton Park group starting up again. They wanted to prevent the zoo from expanding further into the Old Forest.
