Photo Gallery | Tree planting in Pratt City symbolizes community's spirit

Today in Pratt City three symbols of the community's resilience and heart were planted on the grounds of the Howze-Sanford Recreation Center. Dozens of trees were uprooted or destroyed during the devastating April 27 tornado and this is the first step in replacing what was lost.

After the winds died down earlier this year, park employees in Colorado heard about the damage and felt compelled to help. Coincidentally, this group of employees works for the Jefferson County Open Space park system in Golden, CO. The Birmingham Park & Recreation Board received a $300 donation from the Colorado workers in July 2011 with the request that the money be used to purchase trees that could replace those destroyed in the storm.

The board was able to purchase three trees including one ginko and two Shumard oaks.

From a park board press release:

“We are extremely touched by this show of camaraderie exhibited by Matthew Cox and the staff at Jefferson County Open Space,” said Melvin Miller, director of the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board. “I don’t know that we would have ever expected such a generous and thoughtful gesture.”