Trees

 I love this time of year.  The weather gets a little colder, the geese are back, the smell of wood fires is in the air and the trees: the colors of the trees.

Fall Colors near the Wharf

Over the past several years, the Town Council of Centreville has actively pursued a more "green" Centreville. Millstream Park has been the recipient of over a hundred new trees--thanks to a state grant.

New trees at Millstream Park (during Easter Egg Hunt 2011)

The Wharf and Pocket Parks have recently been improved and several new trees have been added, also as a result of state grant funding.

New trees at the Wharf

A tree buffer has been established on the County owned property adjacent to the Providence Farm Subdivision.

Newly established tree buffer adjacent to Providence Farm Subdivision

The most recent "Town of Centreville Email Update" announced "In the coming month, more than 500 new trees will be planted in the Town of Centreville. As part of the completion of phase II of the North Brook Subdivision, the developer will be installing new street trees and additional plantings around the stormwater management ponds. As they mature, these trees beautify the residential environment, provide shade to cool the Town in the summer, and absorb rainwater before it becomes stormwater runoff."

Newly installed trees at Phase II in Northbrook

The developer has begun to install these trees in Phase II of Northbrook and will continue installation over the next several days. Click here for a diagram of the trees to be planted.

A worker installing a new street tree

The Town is also pursuing a "Tree City USA" designation. The Tree City USA program, is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, and provides, among other benefits, national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, over 3400 communities around the US are recognized as a Tree City USA.


The other communities on the Eastern Shore of Maryland who have received this designation include:

Chestertown (30 years)
Ridgely (4 years)
Ocean City (23 years)
Galena (22 years)

One of the requirements for Tree City USA designation includes an Arbor Day Celebration. Through a recent Town Council Resolution, the Town will celebrate it's Arbor Day each year on the first Wednesday in April.

As these trees mature, they'll provide many benefits.

The planting of all these trees is a long term strategy designed to improve the value and beauty of our town.   These trees may take a long time to mature, but as they grow, they'll provide our town with a living legacy we can all be proud of.