In Baltimore, residents are imagining a greener future, with more shade, cleaner air, and trees selected and planted by the community. This vision is the heart of Baltimore Tree Trust's new Community Forestry Pilot, launched in 2026. Neighborhoods Park Circle and Pimlico Terrace both embraced the opportunity immediately.

Why this matters

Baltimore's tree canopy is unevenly distributed, a legacy that shapes public health today. Certain neighborhoods, including Park Circle and Pimlico, have fewer trees, contributing to dangerous heat islands, poorer air quality, and diminished property values. Maryland's 5 Million Trees Initiative and Baltimore's own goal of growing canopy coverage from 29% to 40% both depend on closing this gap — and closing it in a way that lasts.

Built on evidence

Since 2008, Baltimore Tree Trust has planted more than 22,000 trees across the city. The Community Forestry pilot marks a deliberate evolution: moving from an opt-out planting model to a resident-choice approach, engaging neighbors as active stewards of the environment.

This model is grounded in research. Similar programs have shown that when residents select, plant, and care for trees (and receive tools and training), tree survivorship rates achieve 95% at the end of six years. Baltimore Tree Trust is targeting a 90% twelve-month survivorship rate, a 10-point improvement over its baseline.

What it looks like on the ground

This summer, Baltimore Tree Trust’s outreach team is deeply engaged in the community , meeting with residents, block by block, to understand what they want their streets to look like. And this coming November, the planting begins. Participants won't only get a tree in the ground; they'll receive hands-on training from Baltimore Tree Trust’s Urban Forestry Technicians plus a direct line to report issues for fast follow-up care. A full circle moment where workforce development and community stewardship meet in the middle.

Learn more about Baltimore Tree Trust: https://www.baltimoretreetrust.org/

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This work is part of the Crimsonbridge Foundation’s Environmental Sustainability program, focusing on tangible improvements to the environment, inclusive and informed community engagement, and green workforce initiatives.