Trees have long been central to Jacksonville’s landscape. Oaks and pines from forests that once covered the land were cut for lumber and sent around the world, and live oak was especially prized for shipbuilding. It is said that the Timucua Indians lived in awe of the great oaks, honoring them as the doublet of the World Tree, the Cosmic Tree, or the Tree of Life, a sacred tree believed to hold the secrets of creation and life and to symbolize immortality. Jacksonville’s tradition of maintaining trees in the urban environment began soon after the city was founded in 1822, when live oaks and palms were planted along residential streets. By the time Jacksonville became a tourist mecca following the Civil War, it was known throughout the nation for its magnificent tree-lined streets. Later urban growth and development greatly reduced the number of trees along city streets and highways, but in 1986 Jacksonville citizens and their agencies began tree-planting programs to reinstate a healthy urban forest. Many species were planted by individuals, volunteer groups, and government agency employees. To help preserve the Giant Oak at Jessie Ball duPont Park for future generations, the City of Jacksonville, citizens, Council woman Ginny Myrick, the Downtown Development Authority, and the Chamber of Commerce, including the Frank X. Friedmann, Jr. Memorial Foundation, combined resources in a public-private partnership to fund an observation deck, grand entranceway, pedestrian and tree lighting, and other park improvements. The Jessie Ball duPont Park Trust Fund was established by City Council on September 14, 1993, to accept private funds to maintain and protect the park for years to come.