NEW YORK — After nearly nine years, life is returning to ground zero in a tangible way.
Crews on Saturday began planting 16 swamp white oaks at the World Trade Center site. They are the first of nearly 400 trees to be planted around the 8-acre memorial to the nearly 2,800 people who were killed when terrorists attacked the twin towers Sept. 11, 2001.
The trees will dot a cobblestone plaza surrounding two huge pools built on the footprints of the destroyed towers.
Joe Daniels, president of the 9/11 Memorial Foundation, was on hand at the site to help with the planting. He said designers of the memorial envisioned a lush and quiet green space.
The trees come from New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. — the places where the attacks hit. They are expected to soar to 60 to 80 feet high.
