(8/13) The National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA award was presented to the Green Team during the August Town Council meeting for their dedication to tree care activities throughout the township. The team’s efforts to create sustainability, further education, and making the community a greener place was well noted during the award presentation by Becky Wilson, of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Thurmont achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: creating an Arbor Day observance and proclamation, a multi-panel board, a tree-care ordinance, and a forestry budget of at least two dollars per capita.

The Green Award is for sustained programs that are organized, funded, and fully functional with technical assistance and support. This level of award is given to towns and cities that are recognized as Tree City USA. Colleges and Universities are recognized as Tree Campus USA.

Trees provide multiple benefits to the community when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal to neighborhoods, provide much needed shade, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants, and provide wildlife habitat among many other benefits.

This will be the group’s fifth consecutive year since its establishment in 2015. Despite limitations during the pandemic, not only did Thurmont’s Green Team continue their dedication to sustainable planting efforts, but they also included safety protocols, social distancing and mask wearing while planting the parks trees.

MDNR representative, Becky Wilson stated that "while there was no requirement to do any plantings due to Covid, this team held two different events to do so."

Wilson also said that "in appreciation of their dedication, the Green Team was also awarded their very first Growth Award. This recognition signifies the team has taken their tree management program and grown it above and beyond the baseline of caring for existing trees but also doing some additional tree planting. Thurmont’s Green Team joins eight other jurisdictions in Maryland to achieve the award this year – most of which, are in western Maryland."

Mayor John Kinnaird was very pleased and told the team, "You guys are really dedicated and do a great job."