12-06-2024 4:07am

7K TREES PLANTED

Olszewski Celebrates Record Number of Urban Trees Planted in Baltimore County

Fresh approach “greens” neighborhoods, boosts tree canopy benefits

Towson, MD – County Executive Johnny Olszewski today visited a street tree planting project in Loch Raven Village to share that the County has planted over 7,100 native trees in neighborhoods and commercial districts in the past three years. This unprecedented planting effort, which has included 46 communities to date, is the result of Olszewski’s two signature urban reforestation initiatives – Operation ReTree Baltimore County and the Street Tree Replacement program.

“Increasing Baltimore County’s tree canopy improves air quality, beautifies communities, and delivers long-term benefits to our neighborhoods,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “Operation ReTree and the Street Tree Replacement Program have facilitated the planting of more than 7,000 trees in the past three years alone, further supporting our commitment to making Baltimore County greener, healthier, and more sustainable.”

“We are excited to see the large amount of street trees that the County was able to plant in Loch Raven Village and Knettishall,” said 6th District Councilman Mike Ertel. “Over the years, many of the original street trees died and it is nice to have new trees replacing and adding to the tree canopy. Street trees correlate with higher property values, lower crime and cooler temperatures in the summer months.”

This new green infrastructure focus is intended to help address the dwindling tree canopies in many of the County’s established neighborhoods over past decades. Trees bring a host of health benefits to residents and beautify neighborhoods and commercial areas, while enhancing environmental sustainability and resiliency.

“The Loch Raven Village and Knettishall communities were built in the late 1940’s and 50’s and lost much of their urban tree canopy,” said Nick Linehan, Gardens Chair for the community group, Associates of Loch Raven Village. “We have been making headway over the last ten years with volunteer tree planting events, but this program planted 396 street trees, just this fall! Their shade will cool the sidewalks, making it more comfortable to walk in summer, provide us with oxygen and purify the air.”

Before Olszewski’s administration took office, the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability’s (DEPS) tree canopy efforts focused primarily on large rural reforestations, intended to maximize the numbers of trees in the ground. Prior to the launch of Operation ReTree, in late 2021, DEPS planted an average of 200 urban trees per year, mostly upon request and in coordination with community groups and chambers of commerce. Planting in urban areas tends to be more challenging and costly because there is less land available for planting due to tightly condensed roads and utilities – both above and below ground.

About Operation ReTree and the Street Tree Replacement Program

Operation Retree is an equity-based program that targets historically underserved neighborhoods. The first planting took place in fall of 2021 in the Dundalk neighborhood of West Inverness. Since the program’s inception, including this fall, DEPS has planted a total of 3,667 canopy and understory trees in front and side yards of homeowners who chose to participate.

The Street Tree Replacement Program started in the fall of 2022 in downtown Towson, with a goal of 1,000 trees per year. Including this fall planting, DEPS has planted a total of 3,435 trees in County rights-of-ways, along neighborhood and commercial roadways. Prior to Olszewski implementing the Street Tree Replacement Program, there was no County policy or budget to replace the 500 to 600 trees per year that had to be removed by the County’s Public Works Bureau of Highways.

The County’s investment in urban reforestation to date is $4.2 million, including $2.4 million for Operation ReTree, and $1.8 million for the Street Tree Replacement Program. When Olszewski launched Operation ReTree in 2021, he initially allocated $400,000 in County funds. Since then, funding sources have included the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and the Chesapeake Bay Trust County Executive Olszewski (CBT), who administers the state’s “5 Million Trees for Maryland” program. The CBT funded $1.5 million in 2022 for Operation ReTree, and just awarded DEPS another $1.4 million to expand the Street Tree Replacement Program.

“We are honored to administer the Urban Trees Grant Program to empower local experts, like the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability, who understand the environmental needs of their own communities,” shared Dr. Jana Davis, president of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. “Operation ReTree is a fantastic example of what this program seeks to achieve by advancing climate action for communities with the greatest need for tree canopy.”

Ensuring Long-Term Results with Native Tree Species and Ongoing Maintenance

In support of these new programs, Olszewski added Forest Management staff to coordinate plantings and increase the County’s capacity for the ongoing tree maintenance necessary for the trees to survive and thrive.

The tree species included in the program are selected to be hardy trees that have high drought tolerance and are adapted to the particular soils and conditions in the individual neighborhoods. As needed, trees are planted with wooden stakes, mower guards, bark protectors, water bags and sidewalk-protecting root barriers. DEPS provides maintenance for the street trees, until they are well established.

View Program Details Planting Locations

More information on these programs is showcased in GIS map-based websites, which graphically depict maps of the current and past neighborhood planting locations, tree species and more.

Operation ReTree Baltimore County

Operation ReTree Baltimore County is an effort to replace the dwindling tree canopy in our higher-density, lower income urban neighborhoods. County Executive Johnny Olszewski launched this program in the fall of 2021 to plant concentrations of native trees in designated neighborhoods, benefiting residents, enhancing resiliency and addressing climate change.

If you received a mailing from the County offering a free tree at your home, you can easily complete your Right of Entry tree request form by clicking the Operation ReTree image, the "Sign Up Here" button below, or by following the link at the bottom of this page. Only homes in currently designated neighborhoods qualify.

Sign up deadline for Fall 2024 is September 20th.

View photos of available tree species here .

How It Works

Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability program managers conducted a comprehensive statistical analysis of existing tree canopy and 2019 Census data, to assign Equity Tree Priority Scores (ETP) for every Census Block Group in Baltimore County. They calculated ETPs by combining tree canopy coverage, with population density and per capita income data.

Data Analysis

Calculate ETP scores to assess tree planting need and priorities throughout the County.
Outreach

DEPS recruits homeowners to sign up to receive a free tree through direct mail and door-to-door community outreach.
Plant Trees

DEPS contractors plant trees at no cost to homeowners who choose to participate.
Maintenance

EPS contractors maintains the trees until they are well established.

Neighborhoods Planted

Trees Planted

3,238

Trees Benefits

Studies show that trees have many benefits for both human health and the environment. They are natural air cleaners, absorbing greenhouse gases and releasing oxygen. They cool streets and homes, reducing the unhealthy “heat island” effect in developed areas, which cuts energy costs. Trees improve air quality, which reduces rates of heart disease, strokes and asthma. They beautify neighborhoods, and help reduce stress and encourage outdoor exercise.

Tree Maintenance

To help the trees thrive, they come equipped with wooden stakes, a mower guard, mulch and water bags, as needed. Every tree comes with a 100% survivability guarantee for the first year after planting and at least one year of free maintenance. Maintenance includes stake upkeep, pruning, and watering during dry periods during the summer months. After the first year of maintenance, EPS staff will continue to monitor your tree and perform maintenance as needed to ensure the long-term health of the tree.

Use the application below to see what data was used for the Operation ReTree Program analysis and the results.

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ReTree Sign Up FormIf you received a mailing from the County offering a free tree at your home, you can easily complete your Right of Entry tree request form here. Only homes in currently designated neighborhoods qualify.Sign Up