Cooler Neighborhoods: Planting 112 Native Trees Across Frederick, Maryland

Project Summary

11 young people working as Neighborhood Forestry interns with Mobilize Frederick planted 112 native trees across 25 properties in Frederick, Maryland in Fall 2025, advancing the city’s goal of 40% tree canopy coverage by 2030 while building workforce skills in priority census tracts.

Detailed Story

Serenity McWhorter and her intern group at Mobilize Frederick are putting climate policy into practice, one tree at a time. The project, called Cooler Neighborhoods, was funded by a grant from the Maryland Forest Service’s Community Forestry Catalyst Fund and is designed to implement Recommendation 25 of Frederick’s Climate Response and Resilience Report — increasing the county forest canopy by 10% over current levels. The overarching goal is to plant 240 trees across 2025 and 2026 as part of a strategic plan aligned with the City of Frederick’s target of 40% tree canopy by 2030. In Fall 2025, Serenity’s intern group completed planting 112 native trees across 25 properties, including 4 elementary schools, 4 homeowner associations, 4 businesses, and 13 homeowners. The trees included 19 edible species, 36 flowering species, 8 evergreens, and 49 shade trees — a thoughtful mix designed for both ecological value and community benefit. The project’s i-Tree analysis estimated $4,000 in monetary value from the benefits these trees will generate as they grow, and 56% of the planting sites were located in census tracts marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. The work was supported by 5 Neighborhood Forestry Captains, 6 Neighborhood Forestry Interns, and community partners who hosted a classroom lesson, 2 tree ID hikes, and 3 field trips.

Impact Statement

11 young people planted 112 native trees across 25 properties in Frederick — including 4 elementary schools — generating an estimated $4,000 in ecological benefits while directing 56% of plantings to communities overburdened by pollution and underinvestment. The project builds both environmental resilience and real workforce experience for the next generation of urban foresters.