City of Portage plans to plant trees at Celery Flats after tornado damage [Video]

PORTAGE, Mich. — Two tornadoes ravaged the community of Portage, Michigan, back in May.

It left a historic park, Celery Flats, forever changed.

Celery Flats lost much of its tree canopy. Now there are plans to replace what’s lost.

“We are planning to plant 400 trees in the next two years, here and in other areas of our parks system,” Annie Pryor, recreation program manager for the city of Portage, said.

Donations can be made to plant new trees here.People can also give back by helping plant trees at the first “Leaf-A-Legacy” event on Oct. 27.

It’s welcome news to Sharon Strazdas, who walks through Celery Flats multiple times weekly with friends.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Strazdas said.

The area that suffered much of the damage is also a wetland. The Parks Department plans to look at options for that area this winter.

The first trees will be planted in green spaces in the parking lot at Celery Flats.

“One of our goals there is …