The National Weather Service said Columbus, Ohio tornado warnings followed an EF1 tornado that swept through South Columbus during Tuesday’s storm surge, damaging parks and uprooting long-planted trees. Columbus Parks and Recreation is now working across the city on cleanup that will stretch for weeks.
Kerry Francis, the Parks and Rec Senior Manager of Strategic Communications, said the department had received more than 350 tree reports so far from the storm. Francis said the team was out across Columbus working through those reports, with staff from other areas helping on tasks that did not require the Forestry team’s specialized equipment or knowledge.
Topiary Park on Town St
Topiary Park at 480 E. Town St. was among the damaged sites assessed after the storm. The park is known for its depiction of figures from Georges Seurat’s 1884 painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, and only one topiary area not part of the painting was harmed.
The damage also included pathways that were destroyed and trees that had stood for decades before the storm. Columbus Parks and Recreation now has to restore a historic park feature while also clearing widespread damage elsewhere in the city.
Kerry Francis on cleanup
Francis described the recovery as a citywide effort and said residents should report concerns to 311. He also urged caution around storm damage while crews continue work.
“We had more than 350 tree reports so far for this storm, and the team is out across the city working on those. To speed up efforts, our Parks team and staff from other areas have been out assisting with tasks that we’re able to complete without the specialized equipment or knowledge our Forestry team has,” Francis said.
“We just ask people to be patient with us with routine maintenance and tree requests, just because this is just a massive clean up for us, just like everyone else,” Francis said. The question for residents is how quickly Columbus Parks and Recreation can replant older trees and restore damaged areas without slowing the broader cleanup already underway.
