oak creek stream

In the heart of Del Webb Oak Creek, there stands a magnificent oak tree that has become an iconic symbol of our community. This tree, which now proudly stands at the roundabout entrance, has a rich and fascinating history that speaks to the dedication and commitment of our Del Webb Oak Creek project manager, David Heinkel, and our trusted partner, Sunny Grove Landscaping.

David Heinkel, a veteran with 25 years of experience in building amazing communities for our Del Webb, Pulte, DiVosta, and Centex homeowners, played a pivotal role in bringing this majestic oak tree to its current location. Despite retiring after a long and fulfilling career, David's contributions to our community will never be forgotten.

With the help of Sunny Grove, David found this beautiful oak tree on-site during the land development process and thought it would make a great visual at the Roundabout entrance. Sunny Grove root pruned the tree and moved it to its current location with a large crane. However, the tree faced a major challenge when Hurricane Ian hit the area and knocked it over. David wasted no time and immediately got the crane back out to stand the tree upright, ultimately saving it from dying.

During the land development process, David and his team worked hard to save about 12 existing oak trees that were on site. Once they located the transferable trees, they identified the one they wanted for the roundabout entrance. The trees were root pruned and watered in place for about 90 days. After that, they were dug up, lifted out of the ground with a crane, put on a truck, and hauled over to where they wanted them planted. They were then braced up and given about 100 gallons of water a day for about 2 months to ensure their survival.

Despite facing such adversity, this oak tree has persevered and stands tall, a testament to the strength and resilience of nature. We, as a community, value the beauty of nature and recognize the importance of preserving it while developing beautiful communities where people can live together and enjoy Florida's natural beauty and landscape.

As we move forward, our HOA team, along with the Sunny Grove team, will continue to do all we can to help this beautiful oak tree recover and thrive. We cherish this tree as a reminder of the beauty and power of nature and as a symbol of the hard work and dedication that went into building our community.

Thank you for allowing us to share this special story with you!