The massive tornado that ripped through St. Louis in May 2025 damaged thousands of structures, but also destroyed thousands of trees. Forest Park was hit hard, but so were a number of smaller parks in north St. Louis. O'Fallon Park lost approximately 350 mature trees, almost every tree in the park was uprooted.
Meridith Perkins of Forest ReLeaf says the park is now just wide-open, devoid of greenspace with no shade. But Saturday, April 11, a huge volunteer effort gets underway to plant 350 trees.
"This is Forest ReLeaf's biggest tree planting effort since our conception back in the 90s," says Perkins. And it's going to take many volunteers to make it happen. Forest ReLeaf is working with the City Forestry Division, Great Rivers Greenway, O'Fallon Community Development and Black Healers Collective.
To volunteer, register at moreleaf.org/events.
O'Fallon lost almost all its trees in May 2025 tornado
O'Fallon lost almost all its trees in May 2025 tornado
