Last year, Isle of Palms residents started talking about planting more palmettos on the island, especially since Dominion Energy removed about 300 trees. Now there’s a community-wide effort underway, Plant-a-Palm 2.0, and it has gained momentum!
Plant-a-Palm 2.0 is a community-driven initiative to plant palm trees throughout the island. This group was inspired by Plant-a-Palm, which was created in 1990 when Hurricane Hugo devastated the island and a group of residents planted more than 800 sabal palmettos to restore the island’s natural beauty after the Category 4 hurricane.
The first project approved by IOP City Council focuses on the public parking lot at Ocean Boulevard and Pavilion Drive. It’s a large, unpaved lot and one of the least attractive pieces of property on the island, but it’s also the island’s front door and first impression for visitors.
The Family Vacation Rental Group recently presented a $6,600 check to Patsy Hindman and Jimmy Carroll, the founders and organizers of Plant-a-Palm 2.0. The donation will be used to purchase 22 palm trees.
However, in a few more months, the public parking lot will be beautifully landscaped with around 130 palmettos – and the trees are not going to take away a single parking space. “The parking lot’s going to be an oasis on the Isle of Palms,” said Carroll, the former mayor helping lead this effort.
Trees are being purchased by residents, property owners, businesses and civic organizations such as the Family Vacation Rental Group. Each tree costs $300.
“In this day and age, unless there’s a disaster, you don’t see people pulling together,” said Hindman, a longtime island resident and one of the grassroots organizers behind Plant-a-Palm 2.0. “But I’ve had people tell me, ‘Let me know if you need more!’ It’s been very impressive.”
The movement has so much momentum that the group hopes to plant palmettos in other parks on the island, maybe even at the marina. Anywhere there’s city land is a possibility.
This beautification project brings our community together for the improvement of our city. “Hopefully, we will have a celebration and dedication of this cool community event. It will be something positive for everyone after this past election,” Carroll stated.
If you would like to help out and donate a tree, please contact Hindman at [email protected]
By Mel Miles – Family Vacation Rental Group, co-chair
Leave a Reply