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Volunteers plant 66 trees in West Jordan to replace those damaged by vandal

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WEST JORDAN - In the space of several weeks, the West Jordan community has felt a swing of emotion.

Three months ago, a man came through a neighborhood near the City Hall building and ripped apart tree branches and destroyed trunks on parts of more than 50 trees. In total, the damage came in at $35,000.

"I just can't fathom it," said Ty Nielson, West Jordan City's Forester.

Nielson spends time planting, pruning and nurturing trees from the time they're put in the ground. That's why he took it so hard when the damage was done.

“You can imagine the pain the tree had to bear," Nielson said. "To be torn apart limb by limb is gruesome."

More than 200 people turned out Saturday at Veteran's Park to help plant 66 new trees that are going in to replace those that were damaged.

"We got Kentucky Coffee, Linden, and Sycamore trees," said Brian Clegg, West Jordan City's Park Supervisor.

The new trees cost an estimated $10,000, a far cry from the value of the originals. Still, Nielson said Saturday went a long way to restoring the community to the nature it once had.

"This is a healing day," he said. "I’m really proud to be involved with the news being shared today.”