Ralston Creek Receives National Arbor Day Foundation Award

The Daniel Island Club's Ralston Creek course was chosen as one of only four recipients of the National Arbor Day Foundation's 2007 "Building with Trees Award of Excellence." The award recognizes the efforts of community's developer, The Daniel Island Company, to protect and preserve trees during design and construction of the South Carolina course, which opened in 2006.

Preserving trees is a priority at Daniel Island, which won a second "Building with Trees" award from the National Arbor Day Foundation. The Daniel Island Company is the only developer to win two Building with Trees awards. The Daniel Island Club's Beresford Creek Course, designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 2000, won the award in 2003. Ralston Creek was the only course to receive the award in 2007. The other three recipients are residential developments.

The developer and course architect Rees Jones began working two years before construction started on Ralston Creek to plan a course routing that would impact the minimum number of trees. Once construction was underway, crews transplanted 42 oak trees and some 100 pine trees to other parts of the course, according to Jeff Elliott, senior project manager and land planner. Some of the oaks were at least 60 years old and had trunks as large as 31 inches in diameter, requiring one of the nation's largest tree spades to aid in the transplanting process.

"The National Arbor Day Foundation's mission to plant, nurture and celebrate trees is one that we strongly believe in and are proud to support," Elliott said. "We think trees significantly add to the Low Country character and aesthetics of the course."

In addition to saving trees on the golf course, The Daniel Island Company has planted more than 16,000 trees on the 4,000-acre island since development began 10 years ago. "A wide variety of trees contributes to the natural beauty of Daniel Island," said Matt Sloan, president of The Daniel Island Company. "They are a quality of life investment that will pay dividends for generations to come."

Criteria for the Arbor Day award include creativity and attention to protecting trees during planning, design and construction; planting and providing for long-term tree care; demonstrating a commitment to tree protection by having a certified tree-care professional on the development team; taking inventory of existing trees and using information to help preserve trees; and adherence to tree protection goals throughout the construction process.

About Daniel Island

Located within the city of Charleston, Daniel Island is a 4,000-acre island town that features neighborhoods with a mix of home styles and prices, and landscaped streets with sidewalks that encourage leisurely strolls and neighborly conversations. In addition to golf, tennis and soccer facilities, Daniel Island has all of the essential components of a small town - schools, churches, medical offices, restaurants, shops, supermarket and more. Access to hundreds of acres of parks, 23 miles of rivers and creeks with docks and boat ramps, bicycle and jogging paths, and a private in-town country club provide Daniel Island residents with a wide choice of recreational options.

About the National Arbor Day Foundation

The National Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, environmental education organization of nearly 1 million members with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. For more information, visit www.arborday.org.