MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOREST SERVICE

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Tree City USA - Awards Program

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program is celebrating its 40th Anniversary

Tree City USA was designed in 1976 to encourage better care of the nation’s community forests by awarding recognition to communities that meet forest basic standards of a good tree program. More then 3,400 cities and towns in all 50 states take great pride in being recognized as Tree City USA communities. In fact, 42 communities were recognized in the inaugural year and of those, 16 are celebrating 40 years of participation this year.  In Maryland, the two longest participating towns are the City of Frederick with 36 years and Chestertown with 35 years.

How can I join the celebration?


Arbor Day Foundation and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service (MD Forest Service) are both holding photo contests in celebration of the year long event.

  • Tree City USA 40th Anniversary Photo Contest
  • MD Forest Service Photo Contest – take a “selfie” of you and your friends with the Arbor Day sign or banner. Send in the “selfie” with the town or county name to anne.gilbert@maryland.gov.
  • The community with the most photos will receive a prize from the MD Forest Service. 
  • NOTE - A parent’s or guardian’s signature on the Form is required to post photographs on DNR’s website. If the picture contains children under 16 yrs, please click here to download a Photo Release Form.
  • Complete the Photo Release Form and mail to:

    Anne Gilbert
    Maryland DNR Forest Service
    580 Taylor Avenue
    Tawes State Office Building, E-1
    Annapolis, Maryland 21401

​If your community is not currently a Tree City USA, you can start this year.

To qualify as a Tree City USA, the town, city, county or military base must meet four standards established by The Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters.

  1. A Tree Board or Department
  2. A Tree Care Ordinance or Forest Conservation ordinance
  3. A forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita
  4. An Arbor Day observation and proclamation

Tree City USA is greening communities across the country.

This program is a great opportunity to celebrate the importance of an urban tree canopy and improve care of these vital city trees. If you want to learn more:


Tree City USA is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service with the National Association of State Foresters.

Contact Person

Daniel Coy
Maryland DNR Forest Service
580 Taylor Avenue
Tawes State Office Building, E-1
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
(410) 260-8510
E-mail: daniel.coy@maryland.gov