Adam Overton from Hartselle Utilities uses a post hole digger to assist Hartselle Parks and Recreation with planting new trees in Sparkman Park. These trees replaced ones that were blown down during a storm in April. | Brent Maze

Hartselle Parks and Recreation has planted more than 40 trees to help replace many that it lost during a strong thunderstorm in April.

Hartselle Mayor Don Hall said they planted about 45 or 46 trees to replace the nearly 40 trees it lost during the storm.

“I felt like we needed to go ahead and plant the trees to start the process of restoring the park,” Hall said. “The longer you wait to do it, the longer it’s going to take for them to start the process of growing back.”

Hall said the trees are a mixture of hardwoods, many of which that will add beauty of the park during the spring and fall. They include dogwoods, spruce, oak, maple and cypress trees.

“It’s going to take several years to restore it, but I think it’s well worth it,” Hall said.

In addition to the tree damage, the city lost one of its pavilions in the park.

Hall said that pavilion has been rebuilt with insurance money and is nearly completed.

“I think all we have left is to paint it,” he added.

Hartselle Utilities assisted Hartselle Parks and Recreation with the planting, by digging holes for the trees using its posthole digger.

Tyler Turrentine and Bobby Puckett place a tree at Sparkman Park. | Brent Maze