Palm Springs Removes “Racist Trees” After Decades of Outcry from Black Neighborhood

PALM SPRINGS, CA – In a move laden with historical symbolism, the city of Palm Springs has removed a dense wall of Tamarisk trees that for decades separated a predominantly Black neighborhood from a city-owned golf course. Residents of the Crossley Tract have long decried the trees as a “racist” barrier, a living monument to the segregationist policies that shaped this desert oasis.

The controversial, non-native trees, which lined the Tahquitz Creek Golf Course, effectively walled off the Crossley Tract, obscuring views of the manicured greens and the picturesque San Jacinto Mountains. For the community, the row of Tamarisks was more than just a visual obstruction; it was a constant, green reminder of a painful history of racial exclusion and a tangible factor in their lower property values and diminished quality of life.

“Those trees were a physical and psychological barrier,” said a long-time resident of the Crossley Tract who wished to remain anonymous. “They were planted to hide us, to keep us separate. Every day, you woke up and saw that wall, and you knew exactly where you stood in this city.”

The Crossley Tract was established in the 1950s by Lawrence Crossley, a Black developer, at a time when Black families were barred from owning property in many other parts of Palm Springs. This history is deeply intertwined with the forcible displacement of Black and Latino residents from a central area known as Section 14, which was cleared to make way for the lucrative development that has come to define the city’s glamorous image.

For years, residents of the Crossley Tract lodged complaints with the city, citing not only the symbolic offense of the trees but also practical concerns such as falling debris, invasive roots, and the harbor they provided for pests. Their pleas, however, went largely unheeded, fueling a sense of frustration and marginalization.

The tide began to turn in recent years as the story gained wider attention, amplified by local journalism and a documentary titled “Racist Trees.” The film shed a national spotlight on the issue, weaving the narrative of the trees into the broader tapestry of racial injustice and urban planning in America.

Faced with mounting public pressure and a renewed reckoning with its past, the Palm Springs City Council ultimately voted to remove the Tamarisk trees. The decision was met with a mixture of relief and somber reflection by the residents of the Crossley Tract.

“It’s a victory, but it’s a bittersweet one,” commented another resident. “It took this long for the city to listen, for them to acknowledge what these trees represented. The fight shouldn’t have been this hard.”

The removal of the trees is seen by many as a crucial first step for Palm Springs in confronting its history of segregation. The conversation has now shifted to what will replace the Tamarisks, with community members advocating for a solution that integrates the Crossley Tract with the rest of the city, both physically and symbolically.

While the “racist trees” are now gone, their legacy serves as a stark reminder of the enduring impact of discriminatory practices and the long, arduous journey toward rectifying historical injustices. For the residents of the Crossley Tract, the newly unobstructed view of the mountains is a potent symbol of hope and a testament to their decades-long struggle for recognition and equality.