The Pines Of Fort Zach Essay Contest • August 6, 2004
edited by Rosalind Brackenbury

After the protest against removing the shady casurinas at Fort Zachary Taylor a month or so ago, the organizers set up a contest for the best piece of writing about these much-loved and appreciated trees.  Here are some of the results, the written ones, although almost the most moving contribution was the collage of photographs of the small children of our community, hugging trees. 


Click on Photo for a larger view
 “ Once... I would anticipate the relief offered by the canopy of pines along Card Sound Road en route to Miami and the huge shaded canopy along the now bright and concrete Palm Avenue.  When the tall pines were torn down in front of 5th Street Baptist, dove nests landed all over the ground.  Tank Island had osprey perched in its pines (as did Fort Zach, not 2 hours ago) and heron on its beach until it was turned into what Sunset Key is today” 
(Captain Lynda Schuh).
“My husband and I celebrated birthdays and anniversaries under the pines and my summer pregnancy was soothed in a colorful Mexican hammock strung between them.” 
(Judi Bradford)
“I must ask, at what point in time does a tree warrant the esteemed title of indigenous, or was there a Johnny appleseed of sorts, roaming from tropical shore to shore scattering pine cones?”  writes John Gerace, “I see the eradication of Australian pines as an erratic, ironic twist.  If you cut down our tall canopy...we, the residents of this island chain will bake and burn, blister and swell.” Annette Liggett wrote: “Key West is my hometown, Old Town is my address.  The pines at Fort Taylor/ transcend my island living - it’s the place tha speaks softly to my soul.”  Violet Turner wrote, “I am a 4th generation Conch.  This island would not be Key West without pine trees.  They were introduced here over a century ago... I feel a special touch of nature under their shade.”
“When you ask what feelings I attach/to the stand of Australian pines, bending/like ballet dancers over the beach at fort Zach.../ I don’t know whether to laugh or cry”.  (Mary Ames) The anonymous mother who provided the photographs wrote, “Fort Zach is the only acceptable playground in Key West... It is the only place where you can have a break from cars or trucks and feel safe for your kids to run around.  The pine trees make it easy to keep an eye on your kids, even at a distance.  With leaf trees, all that would change.”  And, “Please, instead of destroying what’s already perfect for the enjoyment of a hot day at the beach, let’s work on parts where there is a real need for change.  Let’s build more natural places for different uses.”
There are two prizes, one for adults, one for young people, each winner receiving a year’s family pass to the park.  
The adult prize goes to Angela, the mother (above) who wrote about her children playing at Fort Zach. 
The winner in the young people’s category is 10 year old Guy Hemilen, whose piece is printed here in full:
“The pine trees at Fort Taylor are beautiful trees.  They are strong, they give a huge amount of shade and they give the feeling of a forest.  If the trees would disappear then fort Taylor would be like any other beach.  My brothers, sister and I love to go exploring and play hide and go seek.  The combination of the pines and a few other kind of trees make a great environment for butterflies, dragonflies, beetles and a variety of different birds.  I also love to go snorkeling and see all the beautiful fish.  When I’m finished snorkeling I poke my head out of the water, I look towards the shore and I see the pines and I see the people enjoying themselves.  Let’s say that the pines were replaced with palm trees and seagrape, which are not nearly as tall as the pines.  So this time I poke my head out of the water and see palm trees, seagrape, the tops to buildings, and the tops to cruise ships.  Which one would you like?”
McIntosh for the Key West Citizen
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