UPDATE — The June 8th Agenda Is Confirmed. The Chippewa Tree sidewalk is back on the City Council agenda. Please attend the meeting Monday June 8th at 6:30pm — details below.

Urgent · The June 8th agenda is confirmed. Now we need you in that council chamber Monday June 8th at 6:30pm.

What you can do
The Chippewa Tree, a sprawling live oak draped in Spanish moss on a quiet Maitland street

Maitland, Florida · Active campaign

A live oak that has stood for generations. One vote. One night. June 8th.

Chippewa Tree is healthy, irreplaceable, and directly in the path of a sidewalk the city has alternatives to build elsewhere. We have a narrow window to change course.

Attend the June 8th Meeting →Read the story

Monday June 8th, 2026 · 6:30pm · Maitland City Hall · 1776 Independence Lane, Maitland FL 32751 · Public comment is open to all residents.

Be There — June 8th, 2026

📅 Monday June 8th, 2026

🕢 6:30pm — arrive early to sign up for public comment

📍 Maitland City Hall — 1776 Independence Lane, Maitland FL 32751

Public comment is open to all Maitland residents. You do not need to speak — your presence in the room sends a powerful message on its own. If you do wish to speak, arrive early and sign up for public comment before the meeting begins. Three minutes at that microphone from a neighbor carries more weight than you know.

52″
Trunk diameter
~200+
Estimated years
50 to 90 ft
Root spread from trunk
1
City Council Vote

The Tree

A quiet, magnificent presence on Chippewa Trail.

Looking up through the dense, sunlit canopy of the Chippewa Tree

There is a live oak on Chippewa Trail in Maitland, Florida that our neighborhood has come to know simply as the Chippewa Tree.

Our neighborhood has always called it Chippewa Tree, not "the oak at 2007" or "that big tree on the corner." It has a name because it has always been more than just a tree. It is part of who we are.

It has stood here for generations, a quiet, magnificent presence whose 52-inch trunk and sprawling canopy have sheltered this street through every season, every hurricane, and every change our community has seen.

A city arborist visited it in April 2026 and found it in exceptional health. No disease. No decay. No stressors of any kind. It is, by every measure, a thriving, irreplaceable piece of our natural heritage.

And right now, it is in serious danger of being lost forever.

What Happened

The city's own staff report clearly outlined the risks before the vote was taken.

The staff's report warned, in plain language, that the chosen alignment "carries the highest likelihood of damaging the tree through root pruning." The Council read all of this, then voted to proceed anyway.

  1. 01
    April 6, 2026

    City arborist confirms exceptional health

    No disease. No decay. No stressors. The tree is thriving by every measure.

  2. 02
    May 11, 2026

    Council votes for the most damaging route

    Despite a staff report warning the chosen alignment carried the highest likelihood of damaging the tree, the Council voted to proceed.

  3. 03
    Now

    Construction could begin at any time

    Once the feeder roots are cut, there is no going back. A tree this size cannot be replaced in our lifetimes.

  4. 04
    June 8th, 2026

    Council reconsideration confirmed

    The sidewalk route is back on the City Council agenda. The full council will vote. Your presence at Maitland City Hall at 6:30pm is the most powerful thing you can do right now.

"Even shifting the sidewalk slightly closer to the curb would not significantly reduce root impacts, as root cutting would still be required."

City of Maitland staff report, May 2026

Read the full agenda report (May 11 meeting) →

The Next Step

✅ Done — The June 8th agenda is confirmed. Now we show up.

Maitland City Council
Monday, June 8th, 2026 Meeting
Regular Council Meeting · 6:30pm · Maitland City Hall

The Chippewa Trail sidewalk is back on the City Council agenda for Monday June 8th 2026 at 6:30pm at Maitland City Hall. This happened because hundreds of Maitland residents signed, shared, and sent emails. Thank you.

The vote is not yet taken. The council will decide the route on June 8th. We need as many neighbors as possible in that chamber to show the council that this community is watching and that this tree matters.

  • Plan to attend the meeting at 6:30pm Monday June 8th at Maitland City Hall — 1776 Independence Lane.
  • Arrive early if you wish to sign up for public comment — three minutes at the microphone is powerful.
  • You do not need to speak — a full room of neighbors sends its own unmistakable message.
  • Share this page with every Maitland resident you know — we need as many people there as possible.
The exposed roots of an ancient oak tree

What We're Asking

Build the sidewalk. Just not through the tree.

The city's staff considered multiple routes. A sidewalk along the south side of Chippewa Trail would completely avoid the Chippewa Tree. An alternative along Tomahawk was also reviewed, but significant elevation changes in that area make it far less practical. Both were set aside in favor of the route flagged as most likely to cause irreversible harm.

00

Attend the June 8th Council Meeting

Monday June 8th at 6:30pm at Maitland City Hall. A packed chamber is the most visible and powerful form of community support. You do not need to speak — being there is enough.

01

Build the sidewalk on a route that saves the Chippewa Tree

We are not asking the city to abandon the project. A route along the south side of Chippewa Trail would avoid the tree entirely and keep the sidewalk within the neighborhood.

02

Honor the Tree City USA commitment

Maitland holds the Tree City USA designation. It exists precisely for moments like this one.

03

Revisit the vote before any roots are cut

The south side of Chippewa Trail is the only realistic alternative route. A path along Tomahawk would face significant elevation challenges that make it impractical compared to the straightforward south-side alignment.

Now We Need You In That Room

Show up Monday June 8th at 6:30pm.

The June 8th agenda is confirmed. The council will vote. The single most powerful thing you can do right now is show up at Maitland City Hall on Monday June 8th at 6:30pm. A full chamber of neighbors is something no council member can ignore.

📅 Monday June 8th, 2026 · 🕢 6:30pm · 📍 Maitland City Hall — 1776 Independence Lane, Maitland FL 32751

You do not need to speak. Your presence in the room sends a powerful message on its own.

Still Want to Email? Every Message Is On Record.

If you have not yet emailed your council member you can still do so here — every message sent is on record and still matters.

Open my email to the Mayor & Council

This opens your email app with a pre-written message addressed to the Mayor and all Council members. Please add your name and address, edit as you wish, and send.

If the button doesn't work, copy these addresses:

jlowndes@itsmymaitland.com, sschoene@itsmymaitland.com, sfrench@itsmymaitland.com, brandolph@itsmymaitland.com, kgivens@maitlandfl.gov, info@chippewatree.com

Every share doubles a voice. Please pass this on.

Share with every neighbor, friend, and fellow Maitland resident you know. The Chippewa Tree has stood for generations. With enough voices, we can make sure it stands for generations more.

Sign the petition on Change.org and add your name to the growing list of residents asking the City of Maitland to protect this historic live oak.

Share on FacebookShare on XEmail a neighbor

Spread the word

T-shirts & yard signs are coming

We're planning "Save Our Chippewa Tree" t-shirts and yard signs so neighbors can show their support and help raise awareness around the neighborhood. Keep an eye out for details on how to get yours.

Save Our Chippewa Tree t-shirt and yard sign in dark green with a white oak tree illustration