Street Tree Replacement Program Promises To Plant 1,300 New Trees In Baltimore County

BALTIMORE COUNTY - Residents of Towson and Owings Mills can look forward to a greener downtown in 2023.

A new Street Tree Replacement program was announced on Monday by Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. In total, the project promises to plant more than 1,300 trees planted in six concentrated areas across the county.

Olszewski, community groups, and business owners kicked off the initiative by planting a native hackberry tree at a ceremony in downtown Towson.

“Baltimore County is fully committed to making our communities greener, cleaner, and more sustainable, and we are all in on trees as an important part of that commitment,” Olszewski said. “This new Street Tree Replacement Program will help bring back the tree-lined neighborhoods and business corridors that make our County a beautiful and healthy place to live and work.”

Baltimore County’s Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (DEPS) will begin the $625,000 County-funded project by planting 72 street trees in Towson and 31 trees along Dolfield Road in Owings Mills this winter.

Beginning in May, crews will plant approximately 250 trees each in Dundalk, Owings Mills/ Randallstown, Parkville, Pikesville, and the Security Square area of Woodlawn.

Baltimore County Councilman Mike Ertel says the county has lost many trees over the years due to car accidents, construction, and vandalism.

“We are excited about County Executive Oleszewski’s commitment to add street trees in downtown Towson,” Ertel said. “Over the years, we have had many trees that have been lost to aging, disease, construction, vandalism, and even car accidents. The reality is that trees are an important part of a complete streetscape and create a more congenial, walkable, and safer atmosphere.”

Trees are critical infrastructure supporting health and well-being by improving air quality, lowering summer temperatures, and absorbing greenhouse gasses and stormwater. They are proven to reduce cooling costs and enhance property values.

This program is a continuation of earlier efforts by the county to provide more green space. Last year, Olszewski launched Operation ReTree Baltimore County, a hyper-local tree equity program designed to expand the tree canopy in the urban communities most in need of greening.

This program has planted more than 1,000 trees in Dundalk, Essex, Owings Mills, Randallstown, and Lansdowne since last year.

According to the county, Operation ReTree Baltimore County and the new Street Tree Replacement Program will plant more street trees in one year than in the past eight years combined.