THOMASVILLE — Cleanup and repairs are underway at Thomasville’s Balfour Park.

An EF-1 tornado hit the park April 6, and damaged or destroyed approximately 45 trees, according to city parks and recreation director Michael Owens.

City council members approved at Monday night’s meeting a bid of $27,000 from Bannister Tree Service to remove the trees.

“Most of the work has been done,” Owens told council members at a workshop. “There is still some repair to do. But the part of the park with the playground, tennis court and restroom is back open.”

The park’s playground equipment remained intact and almost unscathed through the tornado and the falling trees.

“I don’t know how,” Owens said. “These trees missed some of that playground equipment by inches.” 

A couple of trees that Owens said were leaning dangerously had not been taken down yet. Many of the trees were snapped. Trees twisted by tornados can’t be salvaged for another purpose, Owens pointed out. 

The storm damaged picnic tables and fencing around the dog park. 

The payment for the work will come out of the city’s parks and recreation account and the city has filed for an insurance reimbursement.