The Porter Live Oak is a centuries old 51-inch diameter heritage live oak tree currently located within 6-inches of the pavement edge of Old Stagecoach Road; the tree is widely considered a City of Kyle asset and historical treasure due to its age and size. The future of the tree has been a topic of discussion since 2020 when staff began evaluating roadway improvements that were later approved by voters in the 2022 General Obligation (GO) Bond Election.

Following City Council action in February of 2025, the tree will be carefully transplanted from its current location to a city-owned area along Old Stagecoach Road a quarter mile north of its current location and adjacent to the Six Creeks Subdivision. The new location will become a “parklet”, or pocket park, to protect the live oak, selected for both its proximity to the tree’s current location and its matching soil profile.

GO Bonds are proposed and voted on in citywide elections. If voters pass Proposition A, bonds will be sold to investors backed by the full faith and credit of the City of Kyle’s excellent AA- bond rating and paid off using city property taxes -- both on homes and businesses.

The City of Kyle explored multiple options for the tree, including removing the tree and preserving the wood for an art project, relocating the tree, and realigning the Old Stagecoach Road Project around the tree.

Based on these options and public feedback, the Kyle City Council voted 6-1 on February 15, 2025, to relocate the tree from its current location to a city-owned easement in the Six Creeks Subdivision.

The tree will be relocated one-quarter mile north of her current location, on the opposite side of the road to a city-owned easement in the Six Creeks Subdivision. The city has engaged a landscape architecture consultant, Asakura Robinson, to design a pocket park to support long-term conservation and ecological benefits for the relocated tree.

The City of Kyle solicited bids from March 18 to April 22, 2025, from qualified arborist companies and selected Environmental Design, Inc (EDI) for the project. City staff then negotiated and finalized the scope with EDI for the tree relocation, which will include:

• Pre-treatment and preparation

• Relocation process

• Post-relocation aftercare

• Rock excavation and soil movement

The City of Kyle will provide traffic control and will restore the roadway and site once the tree is relocated.

The tree will need to be relocated 90 days prior to the Old Stagecoach Road improvements, currently planned to begin construction in March 2026. City staff will notify residents ahead of any disruptions to water service and will publish notices and traffic alerts for expected detours on the city website.

Beginning late July, Environmental Design, Inc (EDI) will spend approximately 100 days pre-treating the tree in preparation of the move. This period will also be used to finalize the remaining planning and logistics for the move. The actual relocation is expected to take 30 days. Following the replanting of the tree, EDI will provide 24 months of post-relocation care for the tree.

• Pre-planning and preparation: Summer to Early Fall 2025

• Tree physical relocation: Fall 2025

• Post-relocation care: Fall 2025 to Fall 2027

Yes. The relocation of the tree, scheduled for Fall 2025, will require a detour on Old Stagecoach Road for approximately 30 days. During this time, the section of Old Stagecoach Road between Cypress Forest Drive and Muscadine Drive will be closed. Traffic will be redirected to either take Veterans Drive or detour to Cypress Forest Drive, Allegheny Way, Cold River Run, Rio Blanco Way, and Six Creeks Boulevard. The city will provide public traffic alerts ahead of the closure.

Based in Tomball, TX, Environmental Design, Inc (EDI) was founded more than 40 years ago and is a premier service provider for specimen tree supply and transplantation in the United States and throughout the world. EDI has also handled similar tree transplanting projects throughout central Texas and the nation.

Although relocation does not guarantee survival according to multiple contracted studies done on behalf of the City of Kyle by certified arborists, the city is committed to the long-term maintenance efforts needed to give the live oak its best chance. Those efforts include but are not limited to proper irrigation, annual mulching, and monthly inspections by a qualified arborist. Environmental Design, Inc (EDI) is also contracted to provide 24 months of post-relocation care for the tree.

In addition, the city has engaged Asakura Robinson to design a pocket park to support long-term conservation and ecological benefits for the relocated tree.

The City of Kyle has approved funding for pre-treatment, tree relocation, and aftercare in the amount of $848,000, with a contingency of 10% at $84,800, for a total contract amount of $932,800. Funding for the project will come primarily from developer funding contributions for Old Stagecoach improvements. Additional expected costs include:

• Road Restoration: $129,540

• Water Valve Installation by KWU: $5,000

• Pocket Park Development: $300,000 - $600,000 (preliminary estimate)

Keep visiting this page on the 2022 Kyle Road Bond website at kylebonds.com/porter-oak