Tarleton considers cutting down historic pecan trees
December 6, 2016
Across from campus, a small grove of pecan trees was planted in the 1930s right outside West End Cemetery, which is located on Washington Street. Tarleton State University is considering cutting these trees down to create a new parking lot. Sena Leese, class of 1966, plans to fight to be able to keep the trees.
“My interest in the grove of trees is very personal. My dad, W.S. Goodlett, Jr. attended John Tarleton Agriculture College from 1934-36. He helped plant those trees,” Leese said.
The area where the trees are planted used to be part of the Agriculture Facilities, which included poultry houses. According to Leese, many work-study students lived in the available housing there.
“It is well known that Tarleton needs parking space. I am as pleased as any Tarleton alumni of the growth and presence of our university in Stephenville and the academic realm,” Leese said. “To cut down the pecan trees is taking away a small memory that I cherish as a daughter of JTAC.”
“I discussed the trees with President F. Dominic Dottavio. He has great respect for trees and traditions and will encourage the plans for the parking areas to include saving as many trees as possible.”
According to Dr. Kyle McGregor, Vice President for Advancement and External Relations, the new parking lot would replace the lot that will be lost when the new Engineering Building is built on lot P30. The new lot should be ready for fall 2017.
“The university takes very seriously our vision to be the premier student-focused university in Texas and beyond. We also take the Core Value of Tradition to heart. Our vision and university tradition must be balanced with fiscal, space and political realities, which sometimes creates opportunities to make challenging decisions,” McGregor said.
“In this case, the reality of limited available space to replace the parking that will be lost when construction begins this spring on the new Engineering Building means that we need to find additional parking to serve our students’ needs.”
McGregor says the school has multiple plans to try and save as many trees as possible based upon utility. A final decision is still pending.
Update: Harry Battson, Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Communications, confirmed the land where the trees are located is Tarleton State University’s property, not property of the City of Stephenville.
Bill Archie • Feb 19, 2017 at 2:46 PM
My family lived in Stephenville many years. Myself, my wife and several family members hold multiple degrees from TSU. Cutting down eighty year old pecan trees
which are the state tree of Texas.to build a parking lot is not a good idea to me. Building multi-leveled parking garages near the football stadium would be a better idea.
Jordan • Dec 10, 2016 at 1:18 PM
Also, instead of complaining and whining about this completely rational use of land, why don’t you go out and plant another tree if your conscience is so bothered by the removal of these. If each of you who were so disturbed by this news did just that, you’d have actually done something about it.
🙂
Jordan • Dec 10, 2016 at 1:08 PM
The cost of a multi story parking garage is approximately $10,000,000 compared to $2000 for an additional lot, enough money is having to be funneled into the college by A&M to supply the much needed housing for the continuous growth, housing comes first, then parking ‘needs’. What Tarleton will eventually have to do is to ban freshmen, and sophomores from bringing cars to the college, like most larger colleges do, if they’re living in the dorms and then figure out some sort of transit to allow those students to go to the grocery store, etc.
Btw, your ‘legacy’ should be more concerned with the growth of the college, not how some trees are being removed to allow space for renovations.
Nadyne Zimmerman Newsom • Dec 9, 2016 at 4:02 PM
My husband, Vernon Newsom and I graduated from Tarleton in 1971. I know how Tarleton has grown since we left in 1973, and I understand that Tarleton IS growing and needing space for additional buildings, but I ask: “Is Tarleton going the way of the city of Stephenville?’ I do hope not.
I lived in Stephenville from 1947-1973. I still go back to visit my brother. I’ve seen what has happened to down town, and I do not want to see this land turned into “just another parking lot”. Tarleton needs to start building parking space by building parking garages. They say it’s too expensive. As my brother said, they could start by raising parking fees to provide money for building parking garages. A&M could allocate money for the garages. I’m pretty sure students wouldn’t mind walking down or up a few flights of stairs in comparison to walking yards and crossing Washington to go to class. I do hope the A&M system will rethink this idea of digging up the beautiful and historic trees just for another “asphalt jungle”.
Nadyne Zimmerman, Newsom
Class of ’71
Sara (Thomas) Graham • Dec 9, 2016 at 3:27 PM
Mrs. Leese, my grandfather-in-law helped plant those trees in the 1930s, too. Whatever we can do to help save them, please, please let me know.
Paul Koonsman • Dec 9, 2016 at 1:56 PM
I spent my Tarleton career promoting loyalty and tradition in Tarleton alumni and students. In the alumni office that was our primary focus. Those feelings of affinity for the university were developed through shared experiences with other students and faculty and often associated with familar landmarks on campus. These feelings of loyalty and belonging are what tie former students to Tarletn. We were and are a unique university, let’s not let that slip away. Let’s not mistake immediacy for progress. The pecan trees have been there for a long tme… the parking lot won’t be.
Jennifer Hawthorne • Dec 9, 2016 at 11:23 AM
The estimated cost to build a 500-space, multi-story parking garage would be $10 million, which must be funded by a bond, not by university sources. By state law, users of the garage must provide the revenue to make the $500,000 bond payment each year, which would mean a $1,000 annual fee to park in the garage.
In contrast, traditional surface parking lots can be constructed for $1,500-$2,000 per space, and may be funded through a campus-wide fee structure. Currently, students pay $85 and faculty/staff $90 per year for university parking. Faculty/staff reserved spaces are $310 annually.
Angela B. • Dec 9, 2016 at 8:04 AM
It’s a disrespectful I think for wanting to cut down the trees that has been here longer than any of us . The trees aren’t hurting anything or anyone they g
Tori Warrick • Dec 9, 2016 at 6:40 AM
I hate to see the trees cut down! They have so many memories to all, to cut any of them down for parking is ridiculous! I understand why and everyone knows Tarleton needs more parking, but I think another option should be looked into!
CHARLES PEEK • Dec 9, 2016 at 5:23 AM
I wish the trees would stay but they will probably go. I would like to have a bunch of the trunks of the trees to cut and dry and then make jewelry boxes. I have made them for about 25 years. The boxes would be a reminder of what was there. Please let me know when they are cut down. Pecan wood is a pretty wood to make things with.
James Douglass '86 • Dec 9, 2016 at 4:45 AM
The Tarleton leadership will do what it chooses, irrespective of all of this input and dialogue. Sorry folks, but this and any subsequent discussions, planning sessions, town hall meetings, etc will serve only to “check the box” indicating that such prior notice and dialogue took place. I guarantee you that the trees are already firewood at this point and the new parking lot plans will proceed with little or no modification to the original plan.
Sadly, our beloved Tarleton appears to have shifted its focus almost exclusively to growth and an ever increasing number of these pesky traditions are simply getting in the way…..not good. The Tarleton that we attended valued and prioritized tradition. That is no longer the case….
Pam Patterson • Dec 8, 2016 at 9:57 PM
I believe other alternatives to cutting down the pecan trees should be explored. Although the property does belong to Tarleton, I believe the Stephenville community should be considered. Putting another parking lot across Washington will create even more traffic and congestion on Washington Street. Residents will avoid travelling to other businesses on that route, and perhaps decide to make the trip to Granbury instead. Why not relocate the baseball area onto other Tarleton property and make the parking lot there? The beautiful lane of trees and the old stone house deserve a better fate than becoming another asphalt eyesore.
Joann Pierce • Dec 8, 2016 at 6:16 PM
What next after the trees, move the cemetery because Tarlton needs the space. They just need to buckle down and build a parking garage.
Jinny McCormick • Dec 8, 2016 at 11:45 AM
If, God forbid, you do build the parking lot there, why not put the spaces between the rows of trees? Why would you have to cut them down? Even ridiculously larger cars can drive between them and you could fit two rows of cars within each avenue. And there is also no need to tear down that building.
Why not put the parking lot where that baseball field is? Why destroy something beautiful when you already have cleared space?
Dirk Hibler • Dec 8, 2016 at 7:15 AM
I work at a land-locked College and parking is very much an issue here. We finally decided a parking garage was the best answer and build one for 550 spaces. Best thing we ever did, so save the pecan trees. Those of us that graduated years and years ago, know what that space means to so many. Keep it up SENA!!!
Roy Hayes • Dec 8, 2016 at 6:41 AM
As a Tarelton Alumni, I speak also for saving the trees and tradition.
I would suggest tearing down the football stadium for parking and building a new stadium at a remote location (Maybe near the college farm.) This would free up space around the college for expansion and parking. It would also create a modern sports facility that may add to the appeal of Tarleton State taking the next step in it athletics development.
This would also benifit the city of Stephenville to help spur the economy and create new jobs.
Rick Marcantonio Class of '96 • Dec 8, 2016 at 12:10 AM
Please consider an alternative to the cutting down of the trees. I’m no hugger, but I do recognize something good when I see it. Traditions play a huge role in the University’s heritage and while the bean counters might believe this is a good idea, the trees are what remains standing and visible after students graduate and are long gone, only to run later for reflection and gratitude. You cannot recreate this type of thing.
One alternative to locate abandoned property throughout the town, whether it be buildings, lots, or pastures, buy and develop them into parking, and use shuttle buses on scheduled times to rotate students to and from their classes. And if they missed the bus, God forbid if the kids had to walk a few blocks to school. In theory, with this solution, you could seek any available property in Stephenville for property search.
Alvis Woodall • Dec 8, 2016 at 12:03 AM
There are machines that can move these trees and replant them without harming them. They don’t have to be cut down. Replant them strategically around the new parking lot.
Wanda Turner Roe • Dec 7, 2016 at 11:01 PM
Save the tree. You will be destroying a beautiful and long standing history of the college. Someday I fear our children will not even know the pleasures of walking through a glorious grove of pecan trees
Eddie Mote • Dec 7, 2016 at 10:20 PM
About the most stupid thing the collage did was not make a deal with the central school when it was dismantled and rebuilt to take the property and let them move up Frey St across from Henderson
mack • Dec 7, 2016 at 10:17 PM
Why does everyone want to get take out all the historical things that are around. Part of Tarleton’s beauty is the landscape, leave the tree/landscape for future generations. Do we not need clean air? One day this world will be just like the movie WALLE (maybe you should watch it.) Tarleton is an agriculture school last I checked that included horticulture so why don’t you just take it away as well. Uh so tired of stuff like this.
Shan Nowak • Dec 7, 2016 at 10:07 PM
I truly believe as a TSU alumni that that history should be saved.
I have yet to understand why Tarleton does not build a multi-story parking facility to alleviate the problem. That would save so much wear and tear on the landscape and demolition of property close to the college.
Please save the beautiful trees.
Angela Bryan • Dec 7, 2016 at 9:41 PM
As a Tarleton alumni class ’88 and lifetime resident of Erath county I hope all the trees can be saved. They are part of JTAC legacy and have added benefit of beauty to the community. Please explore other options for the much needed parking issue and preserve the trees for future Texans and the citizens of Erath County.
Barry Wilkerson • Dec 7, 2016 at 9:34 PM
I attended Tarleton and married my wide there, in ’72. Those trees afforded shade for lunch between classes. Don’t follow TAMU (I live in College Station) and concrete everything in site. Leave the trees.
Kelly Strickland Green • Dec 7, 2016 at 8:59 PM
Keep fighting, Sena! You know we’re with you! #savethetrees
Glenna Cox Lowe • Dec 7, 2016 at 8:18 PM
In the mid-80’s I laid in front of a bull dozer to protect the trees when they closed off campus and built the administration building. They moved those trees to other areas of the campus they were not destroyed. Heritage is the most important thing at Tarleton and in America. Build the parking garage that was suggested 3 years ago where you already have a parking lot and leave these trees alone! I’ve had one already graduate from there and another one there now build the parking garage and make it big enough for future growth and real trucks! Leave the heritage of Tarleton alone. Poo can’t even tackle people for walking on the grass. Teach these kids what heritage is and history is!
Donita Hoffpauir class of 1983 • Dec 7, 2016 at 8:17 PM
I idea that the administration would even consider doing away with that small grove of trees to build a parking lot of all things makes me ashamed for them! We are all overjoyed by the growth of TSU but we need to treasure what remains of the natural beauty that represent the Tarleton of the past. What not build parking garages like most large college campuses! Please don’t take the trees!
Michael • Dec 7, 2016 at 7:52 PM
Please don’t cut down the trees.
Ronnie Thurman • Dec 7, 2016 at 7:42 PM
If they can’t build up, why not turn the football stadium area into a parking lot. Lots of room there! Then build a new stadium off campus.
Allison • Dec 7, 2016 at 6:57 PM
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Those trees are a history of Tarleton. The Pecan Tree, has been the official state tree of Texas since 1919. How can Tarleton destroy such beauty, history and tradition for concrete? Those trees should be protected, respected, nurtured and cherished. Too many changes are happening at Tarleton, pretty soon it will just be a school of concrete. What’s next? Cutting down all the other trees on campus?
Ethel • Dec 8, 2016 at 10:37 AM
Slowly but surely that is what is happening! Tarleton is known for its beauty within the campus but they are slowly destroying that! They have cut down huge beautiful trees to expand dorms and recently also by the student center! It is truly sad! I don’t think they care about the pecan trees, to them they are just a tree in their way! It is a disgrace!
Scott sines • Dec 7, 2016 at 6:43 PM
Really they want to cut down trees for a parking lot that’s just wrong
Tracy Green • Dec 7, 2016 at 6:37 PM
My son is 4th generation to attend sTu.
My grandfather and his brother built the rock wall, were cheerleaders and my great uncle moved John Tarleton’s casket ; they were so proud of JTAC.
I graduated in 91′ and we shared same values and traditions. My son is there now just watching traditikn crumble in front of him.
I now wished I left him w great stories and fond memories than the reality of transistion to nothing note worthy.
He sent me pictures this week of the amazing trees that were cut down by the student center……. a total disgrace!
So much of the trouble would be solved with a parking garage…… support tradition instead of city ordinance and sTu wanting to blend with all the generic universities.
Good advancements with a greater loss we lose!
Wow, I am not feeling the joy of sharing my sTu heritage.
Kelly S • Dec 7, 2016 at 8:32 PM
You are not alone at not feeling the joy of sharing sTu. It seems but a frame of the university I attended and graduated only 8 years ago. Very sad!
Ethel • Dec 8, 2016 at 10:15 AM
You are exactly right about Tarleton loosing/destroying the TSU traditions. I worked at Tarleton for many years but recently retired. I feel, along with many others that the “Family” feel that employees always felt has died with this administration. It’s all about the money and not about the strong & proud traditions and small class/great education that our students used to get. While employed I watched them spend millions to redo the football stadium parking lot only to take it away a year or so later to build dormitories there. That will be the hardest to understand! Their purpose is to keep pushing the parking further and further away from the center of the university. Proof that no matter what, they are going to take what they want to do what they want.
Sarah Ste-Marie • Dec 8, 2016 at 2:39 PM
I completely agree. I attended TSU from 2008-2013. I had wanted to attend Tarleton since I was in the 6th grade when I went on a Texan Tour with my big sister and dad. I instantly fell in love. It was the only college I applied to. I HAD to go there. I had fallen in love with the traditions, students, family feel, and community. I’m so happy I attended when I did. Right after I graduated was when all the heavy construction started. My husband (Tarleton alumni as well), son and daughter, still live here in Stephenville. We took a walk on campus for the first time the other day after all these years and we were both astounded by all the changes. Some changes did need to be made. There were some that we did disagree with. It was not the campus I had fallen in love with though in the end. :/
Dannah Procter • Dec 7, 2016 at 6:35 PM
The pecan trees provide a beautiful transition between the cemetery and the Tarleton facilities. They should remain. It seems inevitable that a multistory parking garage will be built at some time. Don’t cut down the trees and then build the garage shortly thereafter. I’ve understood that one of the objections to building one is the potential ugliness of such a utilitarian building. Baylor University’s garage is designed to blend in with the other campus buildings, and is handsome in its own right . Tarleton could have an attractive parking facility and keep the beautiful pecan trees.
Hazel Grissom • Dec 7, 2016 at 6:34 PM
Please leave the trees. Bite the bullet and build a parking garage. To further alleviate parking problems, create underground parking when building all new buildings.
Lanell Gonzales • Dec 7, 2016 at 5:52 PM
It saddens me deeply that the “better interest of the college” is served by covering every green and growing thing with concrete. It’s not just about a parking lot. Many green and flowering areas on campus have been replaced with concrete. Concrete paths where roses used to sway.
Sheila Birdwell • Dec 7, 2016 at 5:49 PM
Its high time TSU bites the bullet and builds parking garages! It is inevitable,so just do it!
Lili Knight • Dec 7, 2016 at 5:37 PM
Why not buy some of the falling down homes in town and tear them down to make your parking lots? Instead of getting rid of something that actually has a purpose, is beautiful, has history and meaning; why not tear down something that needs to be removed anyway? These places will eventually be absorbed by the University, why not just jump ahead a couple of steps. I might even have your first acquisition.
Jordan • Dec 7, 2016 at 4:57 PM
Per usual, people complain about things, and alas, an option opens up to resolve said thing, people get upset about something else pertaining to the solution. Your sentimental value is going to be eaten by the better interest of the college, end of story.
Sorry!
Jane Doe • Dec 8, 2016 at 12:41 AM
So, I am going to assume that by “things” you are talking about parking. And when you say that an option opens up to resolve said thing, you are talking about them building another parking lot to make more space. But they aren’t doing it to add another lot so that we will have more places to park; they are doing it because they are taking away a lot to build a new building that we don’t need and they have to have somewhere for all of the students they are forcing to live on campus to park.
They could easily renovate an already existing building on campus if they “need” a new building. Or they could just not try to do a million things at once. They are already trying to get too big too fast, and cutting down the trees that hold sentimental value to alum and current students so they can build more unnecessary buildings so that they can cover something of beauty with concrete and paint is unreasonable. Just because it holds no sentimental value, or any value at all, to you doesn’t mean that they should just do it for the “better interest of the college”. It isn’t making the college better. It will most likely be a smaller lot than P30 and the parking problem will continue to get worse with the growing admissions.
Connie Banks • Dec 9, 2016 at 10:39 AM
Ditto!!!
Paul • Dec 12, 2016 at 6:58 PM
TCU has remotte parking lots and a shuttle system to help with parking and traffic. Freshmen don’t need to keep their vehicles outside their dorms. As it is now the upper class men are the ones with the long hikes to class. Inclement weather exacerbates the frustration and inconvenience of a miserable walk while Freshmen are sleeping in.
Megan Jeske • Dec 7, 2016 at 4:46 PM
I thought Tarleton was all about tradition. Here is a not so new idea. Build a parking garage!
michelle helms • Dec 8, 2016 at 6:32 PM
Absolutely! It is time for a modern multi level parking garage. The university will end up causing hard feelings with townspeople and that isnt good fir anybody. Bite the bullet. Build up not out. Sure it costs more, but the students will pay a premium for covered parking. It is after all, about the students.
Connie Banks • Dec 9, 2016 at 10:38 AM
We have lost enough of our beautiful campus cutting the trees is just not acceptable.
Tedra Ulmer • Dec 7, 2016 at 4:12 PM
My husband and I both graduated from Tarleton in the 1970’s. We hope the trees will be spared to keep the appearance of the campus intact. That stretch of land provides a beautiful change from all the congestion of other areas. When is Tarleton going to build a multi-story parking facility to help with parking for students, faculty, and visitors? Solutions must be considered that allow the beauty of the campus to continue.
Reed Baize • Dec 7, 2016 at 3:28 PM
I worked for the athletic department as a student at Tarleton and also conducted my graduate research in the greenhouse at the end of that road. Whether it was baseball games or working in the greenhouses, I truly enjoyed and loved the shaded lane provided by those oak trees. I hope that our University, while aspiring to be the premier student-focused University in Texas realizes that aesthetics plays a LARGE part in that as well.
Pattielu Clark • Dec 7, 2016 at 3:18 PM
That lot of pecan trees is oaet.of the Tarleton I attended and love. The trees are in beautiful condition they should not be destroyed for a parking lot. Hopefully they.can be saved and a lot still be put around them. Yes we need parking, but Tarleton has always been an open campus with many many trees. Campus ia.loainf it’s trees to buildings and concrete. Please don’t destroy the pecan trees
Connie Banks • Dec 9, 2016 at 10:45 AM
I agree. Quit building so many dorms when people are providing apartments and rent houses for our students to rent. Most want to live off campus anyway. It wasn’t that long ago that my boys attended and graduated from TSU. We paid for them to live in dorms that were “new” and you could literally feel them sway if you were above the 2nd floor.
Leave some tradition…I am all about moving forward but the past is what brought us here!!!!