The Baltimore Tree Trust in McElderry Park in 2012

TreeTrust Baltimore

Transform Baltimore with trees!

The Challenge: Too many blocks like 500 N. Luzerne.

The Solution: Methodically planting up the community.

400 N. Luzerne, planted as part of Phase I in Spring 2012.

1) Tree Stewards Class: Basics of tree planting and care. 2) The planting begins! Spring 2012

3) Neighbors and volunteers plant a tree.

1) 2) 3)

Amazing Grace Lutheran Church

The Baltimore Tree Trust in McElderry Park in 2012

The Green Team digs into the mulch for tree pits.

200 N. Milton after Green Team has weeded, mulched.

Watering is essential for new trees. Filling the GatorBag with water.

Neighbors and volunteers at final fall 2012 planting, 2800 block Jefferson Street.

Towson students from Lambda Chi Alpha pose with a young tree.

Photo Credits © Ron Solomon; © Seska Ramberg; © Amanda Cunningham; © Peggy Fox Photography; © Anne Gummerson Photography

Many thanks to the MPTPH funders, Abell Foundation,

Chesapeake Bay Trust, Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative,

Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Foundation, Lutheran Home and

Hospital Foundation, and the Peck Foundation.

2012 Accomplishments

McElderry Park Trees for Public Health

• Organized and conducted five volunteer street tree planting events. • Planted a total of 101 street trees on 13 different blocks within Phase 1 & 2. • Engaged the help of 165 volunteers over the 5 plantings • Sponsored a locally-made video documentary, premiered it in the neighborhood, posted it on website • Revitalized the public health survey initiative with new leadership and direction. Survey was completed and full

analysis of survey, as well as data-based portrait of MP, due early February • Held tree classes for residents interested in learning about trees • Conducted a 6-week summer work program employing young residents to care for the trees in Phase 1. • Directing community organizing efforts for Phase 3, the planting of approximately 80 trees along N. Linwood Ave.

in spring 2013.

Tree Stewards • Reached an agreement with the City to be the administrator for a city-wide program offering classes in tree biology,

identification, tree planting/care, and community organizing. • Goal is to build constituency around trees issues and to support Forestry by training neighborhood leaders. • It is a partnership between BTT, Rec & Pks, and the City Forestry Board. • BTT announced the Tree Stewards program at the TreeBaltimore Annual Meeting, held on Friday, Dec. 7th at the

Vollmer Center, Cylburn Arboretum.

Celebrate Trees • Arranged for a radio interview this spring featuring Erik Dihle and Jill interviewed on WYPR Dan Rodricks Midday

Show about TreeBaltimore, BTT and general sad state of urban forest. Rodricks offered (off air) to help lead, promote tree-planting crusade.

• Won the conservation award at the Greenspring Valley Garden Club Show at the Md. Historical Society in May for our unique prize-winning exhibit focused on MP.

• Engaged documentary photographer Peggy Fox to work on a long-term photo project about the trees coming to McElderry Park.

• Sponsoring a second video by local Videographer Leonard Brady, who has filmed two of our fall tree plantings. • Recognized in an article in the American Forests magazine, (Fall 2012) comparing ongoing urban greening efforts in

major U.S. cities. • Recognized in an East Baltimore Guide features article published Nov 28th, featured MPTPH and new plantings on

2800 Jefferson. • Contracted for the rebuilding of a new interactive website for BTT.

City Tree Inventories • Advanced the concept of doing neighborhood tree inventories as a basis for tree planting and maintenance. • We attended 5 different meetings sponsored by the Central Baltimore Partnership • Prepared a preliminary scope of work and budget for two neighborhoods - Barclay Greenmount/Old Goucher and

Greenmount West and met with them.

Grants • $5,000 Abell Foundation for summer Green Team. • $15,000 Zanvyl and Isabelle and Krieger Fund for trees and staff support in MP. • Successfully lent support for $9,500 Lutheran Home and Hospital Foundation grant submitted by Amazing Grace

Lutheran Church that secured $9,500 for creating new and enlarging existing tree pits in MP. 62 pits done, 43 left to do with these funds.

• Successfully lent support for $3,000 Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative grant submitted by Banner Neighborhoods to plant trees in the 200 blocks of MP (HNI focus area). Secured and spent for trees along 3 blocks in Phase 1 & 2.

• Supported a grant to Chesapeake Bay Trust for $35,000 submitted by Charlie Murphy of TreeBaltimore to include a tree stewards program in Greektown as part of a tree planting initiative there. Outcome pending.

• Supported a grant to Chesapeake Bay Trust for $35,000 submitted by Valerie Rupp of Parks & People Foundation to include a tree stewards program for Monument Street Merchants Association as part of the Monument Street Mainstreets initiative. Outcome pending.