Park Purchase Secures Protection Of Oldest Tree In Pinellas

SAFETY HARBOR, FL – An ancient oak tree soon will be under the City of Safety Harbor's permanent protection.

The city will celebrate the purchase of the property containing the Baranoff oak tree on Friday, March 1, at 5 p.m. The Baranoff Park property is located in downtown Safety Harbor at the northeast corner of Main Street and 2nd Avenue North, adjacent to the Safety Harbor Public Library.

Safety Harbor Mayor Joe Ayoub will sign the closing documents for the property at that time followed by a reception.

On Sept. 17, the Safety Harbor City Commission unanimously voted in favor of purchasing the Baranoff property for $1 million to preserve the giant historic oak tree.

In October, the commission approved a sales contract for the purchase and included a $1.1 million expenditure using Penny for Pinellas funds in the 2018-19 city budget.

The Baranoff Park property, consisting of four parcels, was owned by UCITA Properties LLC, which also owned the abutting Safety Harbor Senior Living Center at 101 Main St. The company was considering expanding the senior living facility, and city leaders feared the construction activities could harm the ancient tree as well as block the view of the famous Safety Harbor landmark.

Ayoub, therefore, approached the company about selling the property. Although the company had been reluctant to sell the property in the past, it agreed to the sell the four parcels to the city.

The Baranoff oak tree is named for Salem Baranoff, a physician who owned the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa. It is believed to be the oldest live oak tree in Pinellas County, estimated to be 200 to 500 years old. With a trunk nearly 20 feet in diameter, experts estimate the tree weighs about 800 tons.

In 2004, it was added to a national registry of oak trees maintained by the Live Oak Society of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation. and assigned Registry Number 4,760. Afterward, the city received the permission of the property owner at that time, UCITA Properties Inc., to turn the area around the tree into a park. The city added a red brick plaza, statues, a pedestrian walkway and benches.

The city is also considering improvements to the park land. Suggestions from residents include a fountain, picnic tables, bench swings, lighting, a dog bag station, a little free library and perimeter fencing.

Images via City of Safety Harbor

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