News from campus and beyond
Trees to be replaced around main entrance to campus
The trees around the front entrance to campus have reached the end of their lifespans. They will be removed and replaced with longer-living trees this winter. File photo.
The last significant phase of tree replacement on Furman University’s campus starts this week as crews begin removing 16 trees from around the front gate and the main traffic circle.
As explained in a previous news story, the trees were planted in the late 1950s when the campus was built. Now they’ve reached the end of their lifespans and have become hazardous. Most of the removal will take place while the university is on winter break. New trees will be planted, 14 white oaks and overcup oaks with lifespans from 200 to 400 years, starting in February.
Street lighting around the circle will also be upgraded during this time. Three new lights will be installed, and all the existing fixtures will be upgraded to LED lights.
Beginning around Dec. 21, the main entrance and exit gates will be closed for about three weeks, depending on weather. The Timmons gate will be open as the alternate entrance and exit during this time.
The tree replacement project began in 2010, according to Jeff Redderson, associate vice president of Facilities and Campus Services. Furman hired a renown arborist, the late Ken Knox, who consulted across the Southeast, including at Augusta National Country Club. He evaluated the condition of Furman’s original trees on the mall and found the majority to be in very poor health. A plan was created to replace them, and the first trees to come down were between Poinsett Highway and the main entrance in 2014.
Other phases removed and replaced trees along the Milford Mall and the Furman Mall and a few trees around Furman Lake by the Janie Earle Furman Rose Garden and the Dining Hall.
The timing of the project has been staged to preserve campus beauty as much as possible. Likewise, placement of new trees will continue to compliment the main fountain and other campus features.
Some older or original trees around campus will also have to come down over the next several years, Redderson said. Those will be smaller projects.
The trunks of some trees will be saved for woodworking projects to be given as gifts. The rest of the wood will be milled into mulch for use around campus.