Sarasota County will begin removing 42 black olive trees along Dearborn Street in late August as part of an infrastructure and streetscape improvement project. Thirty-six trees on the west side and six on the south side of the corridor, planted in 2022, will be replaced due to safety and maintenance concerns.
County officials say many of the existing trees are leaning, posing overhead hazards, while others have root systems that have damaged sidewalks and created obstacles for pedestrians. To prevent further damage and reduce repair costs, the county will install Christmas palms in their place.
The palms, which match the existing landscape on the south side of Dearborn Street, are more drought-tolerant and require less irrigation and maintenance, which officials say will lower long-term costs.
Work is scheduled to start Aug. 25. Crews will remove and replace trees one block at a time, completing each section the same day to minimize disruptions. On-street parking in front of businesses on West Dearborn Street and part of South Dearborn Street will be intermittently affected, with three to four trees replaced per block. Only trees located in the county right-of-way will be impacted.
In addition to free angled parking throughout West Dearborn Street, nearby alternatives include:
- Cedar Street Parking Lot, 47 Cedar St.
- Freedom Pavilion and Parking Lot, 641 W. Dearborn St.
- Green Street Parking Lot, 345 W. Green St.
Updates will be posted on Sarasota County’s social media channels @SRQCountyGov. For more information, residents can call 311 and ask for Englewood CRA.
