An Overview of 2024:

The city has been hard at work to increase the tree canopy from offsets due to storms and tree mortality. We would like to share what we’ve accomplished in 2024. The City of College Park was able to renew its Tree City designation for the 35th year running! There are four requirements: having a designated tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 Per Capita, and an Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation. The city met all of these requirements and planted a Red Maple in Calvert Hills playground as part of our Arbor Day celebration.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) landscape crew was hard at work in 2024. They pruned a total of 520 trees and watered countless trees and plants during our historic drought over the summer. This was a herculean task that saved countless trees. In addition, large trees were pruned for dead wood removal and dead trees were removed by a private Maryland licensed tree expert. The DPW employees are constantly monitoring the landscape and were able to remove invasive daylilies and aggressive Japanese Knotweed along the trolly trail to limit its spreading. Additionally, they cleared non-native invasive vegetation and vines in preparation for planting 30 trees for Good Neighbor Day at five project sites. A vine removal video and door hangers were produced by Board members and the City to alert residents that they may have a tree endangered by English Ivy and how to safely remove it. These materials can be viewed on the city website at collegeparkmd.gov/trees. The DPW landscape crew also planted 6000 flowers at 55 sites over the year.

While not City projects, the State Highway Administration (SHA) and the M-NCPPC Prince George's Parks Department planted a number of trees in College Park this year. SHA planted 223 trees on Baltimore Avenue (Rt. 1) between Paint Branch Parkway and Greenbelt Road as part of the Baltimore Avenue project. The addition of a median strip allowed for a significant increase in the number of trees they were able to plant along this segment of Baltimore Avenue. M-NCPPC continues to work with the City to identify locations where they can plant trees in parks. County parks staff took care to install deer protection and water through the drought.

The City has three tree planting programs available to residents. This year, 144 trees were planted by DPW in City right-of-way as part of the Street Tree program. Six trees were planted with the support of the Tree Canopy Enhancement Program (TCEP), which reimburses residents $150 for planting approved trees on their property. Finally, 163 trees were planted by Casey Trees Foundation (completely free of charge to the resident) as part of our residential tree planting program. An interactive map of the 2024 fall residential tree planting was created by DPW summer intern Takoa Sultan Reisler. It may be viewed it at the City website. We are excited to continue this partnership in 2025 with Casey Trees, who has committed to provide an even greater number and selection of trees to choose from next year.

In total, 313 trees were planted through City planting programs this year and we hope to grow that number next year. If you would like to be a part of growing the tree canopy in the City of College Park in 2025, applications are currently open. To request a tree through any of these programs, fill out an application on the City website or reach out to the city arborist at arborist@collegeparkmd.gov.