One year after the tornado, Clayton's recovery efforts continue with significant progress across multiple infrastructure and restoration projects:

Sidewalk Section Replacement/Tree Lawn Restoration

Over 210 sidewalk slabs were damaged by uprooted trees during the storm. The project included replacing sidewalk sections, repairing adjacent curbs, patching pavement, and backfilling tree lawns. This foundational work is substantially complete, restoring safe pedestrian access throughout affected neighborhoods.

Wydown Median Restoration

Conceptual design of the Wydown medians from University Drive eastward to the city limit was completed in late fall, followed by a community survey to gather resident input. The City issued an RFQ for design services in January 2026, with design expected to begin this spring—marking an important step toward restoring one of Clayton's signature corridors.

Streetlight Restoration

An RFQ for streetlight design was issued earlier this year. This project will address both individual damaged lights across the city and full circuit outages in areas including the Moorlands, Hillcrest, Wydown Boulevard, and Brentwood Boulevard. In the meantime, small-scale, individual streetlight repairs continue to be performed by City crews, gradually restoring safety and visibility to our streets.

Tree Stump Removal

The City is continuing stump grinding at approximately 600 locations citywide. Initial grinding near sidewalk reconstruction areas is complete, with the focus now shifting to tree replanting areas—preparing the ground for Clayton's next generation of trees.

Tree Pruning

Following the tornado, certified arborists identified 468 trees requiring pruning and/or rebalancing. This work continued with contractor assistance in late 2025 and is expected to be completed this spring, weather permitting, helping preserve Clayton's remaining tree canopy.

Tree Replanting

The City worked with arborists and the Department of Conservation to develop a comprehensive citywide replanting plan. The plan includes replanting approximately 600 trees over three years. Newly installed trees will typically be 2 to 3 inches in diameter, as smaller trees adapt better to their spaces within tree lawns and have greater potential for healthy, long-term growth. Stump grinding will continue through 2026 to prepare sites for new trees, with the initial phase of tornado tree replanting scheduled for winter/spring 2026/2027—beginning the long-term restoration of Clayton's cherished urban forest.