Signs describing the Benicia Tree Foundation’s Lake Herman Open Space project were installed last week along the asphalt trail to Lake Herman. About 100 native trees are at various stages of growth in the open space area on the east side of the trail. One sign is at the south end of the project and the other is further north near the Lake’s emergency spillway.
These signs were funded by a generous donation from Sindy Harris, a former Board member who now resides in Oregon. Braden Begbie, another former board member is now is student at UC Santa Cruz, created the content and graphics for the signs. The City Parks and Community Services Department installed the signs.
The sign project began in 2021 when the Benicia Tree Foundation requested permission from the City to install a sign at the Lake Herman Open Space project similar to the Soroptomist Grove sign at Benicia Community Park. City staff suggested an interpretive sign that explains the intent of the project and what was done would be best.
Two signs were produced. One sign described the background on the project, its purpose and the people involved in planting the trees. The second sign explains how oak woodlands help fight against climate change by sequestering carbon from the atmosphere and promote biodiversity by providing habitat for wildlife.
This is the second sign project completed by the Benicia Tree Foundation this year, the first being signage installed at the trees planted around the Robert Semple School playfield by as part of an Eagle Scout Project. Discussions have started on a potential signage project for the trees planted around the Joe Henderson School playfield sometime next year.
