300 blooming trees to be added to Atlanta park in honor of Rep. John Lewis

ATLANTA — An Atlanta park is getting hundreds of beautiful blooming trees in a tribute to the late Congressman John Lewis.

The Freedom Park Conservancy announced Thursday that volunteers will plant 300 blooming trees, colorful flowering shrubs and fields of daffodils in Freedom Park. The project will take several years to complete.

“The trees and flowering plants have been selected for their early blooming in late winter (specifically around February) to celebrate the civil rights icon’s birthday with a spectacular blooming event each year. The desire to honor John Lewis’ life and legacy inspired the Freedom Park Conservancy, Trees Atlanta, and The National Center for Civil and Human Rights to bring together their commitments to community stewardship, urban tree cover, and civic storytelling,” the park conservancy said.

Over a five-year period, the Freedom Park Conservancy will lead the effort to extend the “Flowering Forest” with additional hundreds of blooming trees through Freedom Park, the largest linear park in Atlanta, along the length of John Lewis Freedom Parkway to Boulevard. The blooming trees will link John Lewis Plaza, The Carter Center and The King Center.

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Tree selections will include mostly native varieties of redbuds, magnolias, dogwoods, yellowwoods, buckeyes, fringe trees, and other flowering species.

“Freedom Park has an important legacy in the areas of art, activism and nature, and this tree installation will honor John Lewis and allow us to reinforce his legacy for future generations. Today John Lewis Plaza within Freedom Park is anchored by the The Bridge, a work of sculptor Thornton Dial, which represents Congressman Lewis’ lifelong quest for the advancement of civil and human rights,” said Harriett Lane, Freedom Park Conservancy Chair.

Volunteers can help with the first phase of the project, which is scheduled to begin on Feb. 19, 20 and 21. You can sign up here to volunteer.

Cox Media Group