The poplar trees at Staysail RV Park in Oak Harbor received a beating from heavy wind Thursday evening. Around sunset, a 40 to 50-year-old poplar came crashing down.

“Of all the times I’ve stayed here it’s the first time I’ve had to put my antenna down,” said Jay Weewie, who witnessed the tree fall. He described the wind as “brutal.”

There was no personal or property damage as a result of the fallen tree, although the episode brought into questions the safety of the trees still standing.

Hank Nydam, Oak Harbor parks manager, described the poplar as having visible rot in the trunk.

“It’s definitely got some damage in there,” he said, nodding in the direction of the downed tree as a city crew worked in the rain to clear the debris Friday morning.

Four city employees, in addition to Nydam, used a bucket truck, backhoe and chipper to clear the area. Down tree cleanups aren’t cheap. By the time the park is back to normal, it’ll cost the city about $1,000, Nydam said. It’s a lot more affordable to use city staff than it is to contract the work out, he added.

“It adds up pretty quickly,” he said

An arborist evaluated the fast-growing poplars about “six of seven years ago,” Nydam said. As a result of the study, several trees were removed from the east side of the park.

In order to ensure the park’s safety for visitors, the trees are probably due for another round of tests, Nydam said.