Precinct 4 parks may one day feature descendants of oak trees that served as a sacred meeting place for Comanche and Tonkawa tribes, offered shade to Texas heroes, and witnessed the rise of the first Texas cities.

The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center recently donated several saplings to Precinct 4 from its Hall of Texas Heroes Collection, which includes the offspring of historically significant trees across Texas.

One of those trees was grown from Austin's Treaty Oak, nominated to the American Forests' Hall of Fame for Trees in Washington, D.C. Located in Austin's Treaty Oak Park, the 500-year-old oak is the last surviving member of a grove known as the Council of Oaks, a common meeting ground for Native Americans and the site of Stephen F. Austin's first boundary treaty with local tribes.

Precinct 4 parks will also include descendants from two Lyndon B. Johnson Oaks that grew in the former president’s ranch in Stonewall, TX. Often, LBJ would hold meetings with dignitaries under the shade of the big oak trees at his ranch, now Lyndon B Johnson National Park. Other historic trees coming to Precinct 4 parks include the Indian Marker Tree located along a Comanche camping spot in Burnet, the Chocktaw Robinson Oak named after Preacher William Robinson whose favorite preaching spot was under the Texas Live Oak in Hazeldell, and Traders Oak, the site of the first successful trading business in Fort Worth.

"We hope to eventually share these trees and their rich history with all our Precinct 4 residents," said Commissioner R. Jack Cagle. "Park-goers will one day be able to learn about natural history as well as significant events and individuals from our state history through these plantings."

The saplings are currently at the Jones Park nursery. Once the trees reach maturity, they will be planted at Precinct 4 parks and recognized for their place in history. For more information on LBJWC:  https://www.wildflower.org/.