Tornado Recovery in Forest Park
Forest Park experienced severe damage from tornadoes that devastated our region on May 16, 2025. More than 5,000 trees were impacted—3,000 were lost or will need to be removed. Many large tree stumps remain, and fallen trees damaged paths in some cases.
Repairs will be expensive. Replacing a decades-old tree canopy is a multi-year project, but it does not change our mission to sustain Forest Park.
Significant Damage and Overwhelming Support
The worst damage occurred in the west and north areas of Forest Park. Affected areas include the Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, the maple allée at the top of Art Hill, Kennedy Forest and Kennedy Boardwalks, the Cascades waterfall and stairs, the Jewel Box and surrounding areas and the paths and trails along Skinker Boulevard, Lindell Boulevard and Lagoon Drive between Emerson Grand Basin and Picnic Island.
Making Forest Park safe again required a massive effort by the City of St. Louis and Forest Park Forever, working closely with contractors and volunteers. The immediate need was to remove hazards, followed by clearing debris. Volunteers were instrumental in those efforts:
2,509 individuals signed up to receive information about volunteering with Forest Park Forever
413 volunteers helped remove debris
1,602 hours of volunteers’ time helped recovery begin
Along with continuing our daily work, we removed debris and damaged trees throughout the spring and summer. Paths and trails are mostly cleared, but clean-up continues.
Help Forest Park Grow Back Stronger
You can help Forest Park recover from the tornado by supporting our work. Long-term restoration and landscape improvements will sustain this urban oasis for generations to come.
Looking Forward
City of St. Louis arborists and Forest Park Forever land management staff estimate 2,200 damaged trees have been removed as of August. We hope to plant around 6,000 trees throughout the Park over the next five years, 2,400 of those within the next 12 months.
Photos above show groups of volunteers removing fallen tree debris at multiple locations in Forest Park
Resources for Tornado Recovery & Tree Care
The City of St. Louis has many resources for tornado response and recovery. Find links to get help and find information. Connect with organizations that are giving help and stay updated with the lates news.
The City has several mulch and wood chip pick up sites.
Disaster Recovery Centers with FEMA Individual Assistance staff are opening in the City of St. Louis to help people affected by the May 16 tornado and storms. Find locations and hours of operation on the City’s website.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) can help you care for trees after a storm.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) can help you find an arborist and verify credentials.
Mulching limbs and felled trees is not taking place onsite in the Park. The City has several pick up sites for mulch and wood chips.
The National Weather Service has a report on the EF3 and EF2 tornados that brought winds up to 152 mph and devastated our region on May 16, 2025.
Our organization has been working with the City to restore and maintain Forest Park for nearly 40 years. Our Park is different since May 16, and so is our daily work, but our mission is still to sustain Forest Park for the next generation.
Image gallery
Photos below show damage from the May 16, 2025, tornados at Picnic Island, near the Muny, PICNIC PAVILION 11 IN KENNEDY FOREST, A PATHWAY ALONG SKINKER BLVD., near the visitor center, near the path between Grand Drive At Lindell Blvd. and Cricket Drive at Union and the path between Concourse Drive and Government Hill.
Photos below show damage from the May 16, 2025, tornados aROUND THE DENNIS & JUDITH JONES VISITOR & EDUCATION CENTER, RACQUETBALL COURTS, HANDBALL COURTS, SWINGS, “THE NICK” BASKETBALL COURTS and variety wonderland playground
Photos below show damage from the May 16, 2025, tornado to the BELOVED WILLOW TREE IN LANGENBERG FIELD, AND MOORE MEADOW NEAR LIBERAL ARTS BRIDGE and the nathan frank bandstand in pagoda circle (near the muny)
Photos below show damage from the May 16, 2025, tornados aROUND POST-DISPATCH LAKE, THE EMERSON GRAND BASIN, THE CASCADES, PATHWAYS ALONG LAGOON DRIVE and SHAKESPEARE GLEN
