Four weeks after a windstorm blew through the area, locals still are cleaning up downed trees and forest debris.

Avery Park had 30 large trees toppled from gusts Dec. 14, and a fir tree still lies across the southeast entrance, blocking that and accentuating closure signs.

“That topside will be closed until further notice, until we can get everything removed out of there,” said Steve DeGhetto, city parks operation supervisor.

The city is in the process of taking down another 30 trees at Avery Park that were damaged or could pose a hazard in the next windstorm, DeGhetto added.

He estimated the city park system’s storm damage at $37,000.

Oregon State University had about $205,000 in damage from 25 to 30 trees that were felled or needed to be taken down, said Todd Simmons, OSU director of news and communications.

Trees crashed into equipment and ruined a walkway near McNary Hall, and debris crashed through windows.

At some local spots, damage couldn’t be measured in dollars.

Oak Lawn Memorial Park had more than 20 fir trees from an adjacent property fall into it, and a blanket of fir debris and branches covered the south section of the cemetery last week. A few limbs were impaled in the ground.

There was no long-term damage, said Jay McHenry, who manages the cemetery.

“I’m upset,” said John Kershaw of Corvallis, whose wife and son are buried there. “I was really, really shocked at the mess that was left.”

Before Christmas, Kershaw took flowers up to his wife’s grave but couldn’t find it at first.

“The people who have loved ones resting there don’t like it. But it’s Mother Nature. It’s just a natural occurrence,” McHenry said.

The property south of Oak Lawn was logged to make way for a subdivision, but a line of trees was left for a buffer.

The aim was to preserve the serenity of the cemetery. But with 50 mph winds, the remaining trees did just the opposite.

Developer Scott Sanders said he’s in the process of moving trees left along the property line. “It’s just such a sensitive subject. We just didn’t want to upset anybody anymore,” he added.

Some kind of vegetation or landscape buffer will be put in between houses and the cemetery, he said.

McHenry said Sanders was being responsive, and taking the necessary steps to come to a solution. But he added that there should have been more planning.

At Avery Park, two picnic shelters were damaged by falling trees.

DeGhetto said that about 100 trees throughout the city’s park system were toppled. He added those will be salvage logged.

“We’re not in the timber business, but if the wind blows them down,” DeGhetto said. “The hope is the revenue that comes from those downed trees will offset the cost of the cleanup.”

Root balls from the trees also will be used in wildlife habitat enhancement projects.

1n 1994, 54 trees were felled by a windstorm at Avery Park. “Anytime we get winds more than 40 mph, we get trees down,” DeGhetto said.

Kyle Odegard covers Benton County government, Philomath and rural Benton County. He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.