The 342 acre Lea Woods was
purchased in 1901 as the first project of the new
Commission. By popular vote, the park was named for Judge
John Overton, a city founder. Within Overton Park, 175 acres
of original climax oak-hickory is preserved as The Old
Forest. This unique urban forest was preserved as a unit by
the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971, and placed on the national
Historic Register of Places in 1979.
The mile-and-a-quarter loop trail points out a variety of
trees and plants, along with facts about the natural
history, land use, effects of nature and impact by humans in
an urban setting. Come back often.
Remember that you are passing through a wild forest. Be very
careful to stay on the trails. Poison ivy is very prevalent.
Fallen limbs, covered by leaves and plants, can trip you and
the sharp ends of sticks can injure you. Poisonous snakes
live here but will not bother you if you don't bother them.
Chiggers and mosquitoes are plentiful, especially during the
summer, so bring insect repellent as a precaution.
The Old
Forest may be the only one of it's kind in North America, so
please respect it and keep it clean. |
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Old Forest Arboretum
On August 30, 2002, Don Richardson
and Memphis Urban Forester, Chris
Latt, guided an inspection tour of
the Old Forest Arboretum led by
Bruce Webster, Tennessee State Urban
Forester, accompanied by
representatives of the Tennessee
Urban Forestry Council and the
Tennessee Federation of Garden
Clubs, Inc. As a result, the Old
Forest Arboretum was approved to be
certified as a level one Tennessee
State Arboretum. Forty-nine tree
markers, identifying 32 species,
have been erected in various
locations to allow viewing by users
of the trails, the jogging path and
the golf course. Tree identification
began in 1997, with tree species
numbering 70 being identified in
early August 2002. Specimens of all
species are not all accessible by
pathways, so not all species will
have markers, although additional
markers will be added in the future. |
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NEW! Map of
the Old Forest
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Old Map of
the Old Forest
Must have Adobe Reader to view map
click here to get Adobe Reader |
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