Visitor Lot Allee Tree Replacement
The pathway and Allee of trees leading fro the Visitor and Education Center toward Pagoda Circle, photographed in fall 2023
After researching replacement options, Forest Park Forever’s horticultural team selected the “yellow bird” flowering magnolia.
In partnership with St. Louis City’s Forestry team, our conservancy is replacing the invasive Callery pear trees along the allee* bisecting the east and west parking lots between the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center and Pagoda Circle.
We are restoring the allee with trees more suitable for this environment.
Magnolia Tree Planting
In keeping with the original design intent of the allee, the team are replacing 54 invasive pear trees with 57 ornamental “yellow bird” magnolia trees to frame the walkway and view of the Nathan Frank Bandstand near The Muny.
The invasive pear trees were felled by Forestry teams on Tuesday, February 28 and Forest Park Forever immediately began preparing the site for new plantings. The turf under the trees was also eliminated to prepare it for “green mulch” understory.
Tree planting began on Monday, March 13. Sourced from a nursery in Kansas City, the magnolia trees are already well-established, standing 9 feet to 12 feet tall, and we anticipate impressive flowers this spring.
Concurrent with this work, crews are also rehabbing the ADA-accessible ramps on the walkway.
Photos of the tree removal process during the week of Feb. 28, and tree planting during the week of March 13.
Overall, this project will have several benefits:
• Removal of an invasive species: Callery and “Bradford” pear trees used to be a popular landscaping selection, but they have proven to be invasive and problematic, and the Missouri Department of Conservation is among many organizations that recommend their removal. They have poor branch structure, are prone to breaking in storms and high winds, yet they quickly reproduce and form colonies that outcompete native species.
• Restoring the 60-tree allée: There are currently 54 trees in the allee, as several have failed or needed replacement over the years.
• Improving the beds around the trees: The islands of the parking lots are a challenging environment for landscaping, and the existing trees have shaded out the understory. This project is also an opportunity for us to replace turf and brown mulch with a selection of durable plants that have performed well in similar areas in the Park, while maintaining a visually appealing walkway.
In preparation for this work, our horticultural team eliminated the turf under the existing pear trees to prepare it for “green mulch” plantings that will be used on the restored allée.
About the Allée
Over the years, multiple pear trees out of the original 60 have failed or been replaced due to the species’ problematic branch structure and tendency to break in high winds and storms.
Our horticulturists use landscapes to inform and connect different destinations throughout Forest Park. In the Visitor Center parking lots, the allée of trees forms a pathway that connects the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center and Pagoda Circle near The Muny. Planted as part of the renovation of these parking lots 20 years ago, this flowering tree allée is an intentional part of the Park’s design.
Originally designed for 60 trees, over the years some pear trees have failed or been replaced, and 54 trees existed at the time that this allée restoration was set to begin at the end of February 2023.
About the Replacement Trees
To identify a replacement tree species, Forest Park Forever’s horticulture team looked for trees that would meet several factors:
Illustration of what the allée will look like after yellow bird magnolias and green mulch understory are established | Illustration by Justin Schmitt, Forest Park Forever Landscape Designer & Horticulture Project Manager
Appropriately sized and conducive to the landscape
Spring flowering to maintain the original design intent of the allée
A more narrow form, as the allée primarily consists of trees between a sidewalk and a parking lot
The need to be able to source in bulk — 60 trees of the same species at similar stages of growth
The magnolias that will be planted are roughly between 5-10 years old, and will measure a little over 10 feet tall when installed.
Do you Have Invasive Callery or Bradford Pear Tree?
Known for their white flowers, Callery pears can be identified through a variety of observations. See the Missouri Department of Conservation site or this video.
Ecological organizations are increasingly raising awareness about invasive pear trees, with some offering encouragement and incentives to replace them. One example is Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, which provides free trees to people who replace these trees.
Want to Help Remove Invasives in Forest Park?
Removing invasive species is part of Forest Park Forever’s on-going efforts to maintain the health of Forest Park and its green spaces. These efforts include year-round work by our staff as well as volunteer opportunities, including the annual Invasive Removal and Forest Restoration Day. Want to volunteer? You can help on that day, or at any other time of year by registering with us as a volunteer.