Operation ReTree Baltimore County focusing on underserved communities – WBAL TV Baltimore

An equity-based tree-planting initiative is celebrating "Earth Week" by expanding Operation ReTree Baltimore County to plant trees in lower-income neighborhoods."We know from the data and from our tree canopy that far too many of our urban, often communities of color, lower-income neighborhoods don't have the same tree canopy of other neighborhoods," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said.This marks the second season for the Operation ReTree Baltimore County program. Last year, the county planted 300 trees in residential yards and public spaces in Dundalk.On Thursday, 45 trees were planted at Northwest Crossing Apartment Homes in Randallstown."I certainly look forward to all the benefits additional trees will bring to the citizens of Baltimore County -- beautification, shade, but more importantly, we're talking about clean, fresh air," Baltimore County Council Chairman Julian Jones said.Officials said they hope to plant 450 native trees at single-family and apartment homes across the county as follows. Each tree costs around $600.130 trees at Morningside Apartments and Townhomes in Owings Mills123 trees in Eastfield-Stanbrook in Dundalk77 trees in Stansbury Park in Dundalk45 trees at Northwest Crossing Apartment Homes in Randallstown42 trees in Fox Ridge Manor in Essex37 trees, in addition to the 300 trees already planted, in West Inverness in Dundalk"We're building out a complete urban forestry division within our Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability so that we are more intentional about putting trees in these communities that have been left behind," Olszewski said.Not only is there a correlation between canopy cover and race, but there's also one with health. Officials said correlations between tree canopy coverage and health benefits include reduced emergency room visits and reduced asthma attacks.Operation ReTree Baltimore County is funded through a combination of sources, including $400,000 in Baltimore County capital funds and $1.5 million through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Baltimore County residents can get three free trees on Arbor Day weekend on April 29-30. The trees must be pre-ordered on the county's website.| LINK: Arbor Day 2022 free tree giveaway

An equity-based tree-planting initiative is celebrating "Earth Week" by expanding Operation ReTree Baltimore County to plant trees in lower-income neighborhoods.

"We know from the data and from our tree canopy that far too many of our urban, often communities of color, lower-income neighborhoods don't have the same tree canopy of other neighborhoods," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said.

This marks the second season for the Operation ReTree Baltimore County program. Last year, the county planted 300 trees in residential yards and public spaces in Dundalk.

On Thursday, 45 trees were planted at Northwest Crossing Apartment Homes in Randallstown.

"I certainly look forward to all the benefits additional trees will bring to the citizens of Baltimore County -- beautification, shade, but more importantly, we're talking about clean, fresh air," Baltimore County Council Chairman Julian Jones said.

Officials said they hope to plant 450 native trees at single-family and apartment homes across the county as follows. Each tree costs around $600.

"We're building out a complete urban forestry division within our Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability so that we are more intentional about putting trees in these communities that have been left behind," Olszewski said.

Not only is there a correlation between canopy cover and race, but there's also one with health. Officials said correlations between tree canopy coverage and health benefits include reduced emergency room visits and reduced asthma attacks.

Operation ReTree Baltimore County is funded through a combination of sources, including $400,000 in Baltimore County capital funds and $1.5 million through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Baltimore County residents can get three free trees on Arbor Day weekend on April 29-30. The trees must be pre-ordered on the county's website.

| LINK: Arbor Day 2022 free tree giveaway

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Operation ReTree Baltimore County focusing on underserved communities - WBAL TV Baltimore