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Berlin parks groups briefed on Tree City USA recognition and local grant options
Summary
At a January meeting, the Tynanville Parks Commission heard from the U.S. Forest Service about pursuing Tree City USA recognition, required local steps (a tree board, ordinance, $2 per capita spending, and an Arbor Day event) and several grant opportunities including $1,000 and $5,000 MDOT grants.
The Tynanville Parks Commission on Wednesday heard a Forest Service presentation outlining how the town could pursue Tree City USA recognition and tap state and federal grants to plant and care for more trees.
Greg Eastman, Eastern Region urban forester with the U.S. Forest Service, told commissioners the Tree City USA program — administered by the Arbor Day Foundation — requires four standards: a tree board or designated department, a public tree-care ordinance, annual per-capita spending of $2 on tree care, and a public Arbor Day event with documentation. "And then the standard 3 is the annual annual expenditure of $2 per capita," Eastman said.
Why it matters: recognition can open funding and technical-assistance pathways for local plantings, Eastman said, and the Forest Service can supply discounted trees, planning help and sometimes full planting support for larger projects. He described small programs that provide saplings and larger grants tied to Maryland—s Tree Solutions Now Act of 2023.
Eastman summarized likely funding sources: a Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Commission (MUCFC) grant (commonly $1,000 for public-land projects), an MDOT "Urbantree" grant that can fund up to $5,000 and can be applied to private-property plantings, Chesapeake Bay Trust grants for larger canopy or inventory projects, and discretionary Forest Service support. He said the commission qualifies to pursue the $5,000 MDOT grant because of Berlin's urban/underserved designation and proximity to certain state roads.
Commissioners discussed logistics and needs in town parks, noting Henry's Park and Steven Decatur Park have lost mature trees and need buffers next to the highway. Laura Stearns, parks commission chair, and other members described recent plantings (roughly 35 trees in total this year across private and public sites, with about 12 installed in parks) and urged outreach to residents and schools to boost planting and aftercare.
Eastman said the Forest Service can help with species selection and planting plans that account for utilities and safety, and that the usual program stock is 5-gallon trees (about 6 feet tall). "We have a list, so you guys can pick off of our list," he said, noting some grants require minimum percentages of trees versus shrubs and that initial mulch and limited aftercare are typically part of funded plantings.
He also described a 2013—'to—2021 spatial analysis showing Berlin's canopy at about 29 percent, with a community goal of roughly 40 percent, and offered to circulate the report and the model ordinance to the commission. Eastman gave his contact for follow-up: gregory.eastman@maryland.gov.
Next steps: the commission agreed to discuss which body will serve as the town's tree board or point of contact, to review model ordinance language that Eastman will provide, and to plan an Arbor Day planting or tie an event into an existing spring celebration. Commission staff will circulate materials and follow up with the Forest Service about potential grant applications and a planting plan. The meeting approved prior minutes by voice vote and adjourned without additional action on the Tree City application.
