The city Parks Department is planting seeds for a leafier Oval Park after construction-hatted crews decked in neon vests were spotted planting close to four-dozen trees around the perimeter of the Norwood greenscape.

A Caterpillar crawler also joined the crews the week of Jan. 20, digging out soil as crews shimmied an unprecedented 43 saplings ranging from oaks, Japanese katsura trees, and London planes, into their new home. The new trees are scattered about the park though many can be found on the upper promenade. It can take decades to see these trees grow to maturity, with the katsura tree taking upwards of 50 years.

The Parks Department said the project is part of the city’s years-long effort to replant trees wiped out during Superstorm Sandy when wind gusts reached 71 mph during the height of the historic storm. It’s estimated that some 20,000 trees were destroyed when Sandy arrived to the New York City. The Bronx fared better than most parts of the city when it came to lost trees, though Williamsbridge, Allerton, and Pelham Gardens in the north central part of the borough suffered heavy losses with 128 complaints of damaged tree reported to 311.

The Parks Department puts the cost of the project—when factoring in Manhattan and Queens, which also received new trees—at $2.7 million.

The news adds to the ongoing investment for the treasured park, which recently saw the opening of a skateboard area on the eastern side of the park after years of delays and setbacks. Since the early 2000s, following the deal to see the construction of the Croton Water Filtration Plant in the Bronx, resulting in a $200 million reserve for park projects, Oval Park has seen other improvements that include a top-down renovation for the recreation center, staircase on the northern end of the park, and a revamped track and field.

The plantings come ahead of a massive tree planting effort by the Parks Department, which is slated to put new trees along several parts of Norwood starting May 31. Areas expected to see new trees include 340 E. 204th St., 355 E. 204th St., 292 E. 205th St., 268 E. 207th St., 277 E. 207th St., 3252 Decatur Ave., 3254 Decatur Ave., 3307 Hull Ave., 3343 Decatur Ave., 82 E. 208th St., 81 E. 208th St., 15 E. 208th St., 3450 Jerome Ave., 245 E. Gun Hill Rd., 3508 Kings College Pl., 280 E. 211th St., 3547 Webster Ave., and 3551 Webster Ave.

Editor’s Note: To track where and when the New York City Parks Department is planting a tree near your home, go to https://www.nycgovparks.org/trees/street-tree-planting/locations.