The Greening of Perry Hall The Greening of Perry Hall is a major initiative for the Perry Hall Improvement Association.

More people than ever before are concerned about the environment—how manmade activities may be changing the weather, polluting our atmosphere, and altering our world. Sometimes, it seems like one person cannot make much of a difference. That’s why the Perry Hall Improvement Association (PHIA) has started an initiative in which people can help save the environment, starting in their own backyard.

The Perry Hall Green Fund

The PHIA has created the Perry Hall Green Fund, an initiative to replenish some of the thousands of trees that have been destroyed in our community over the past few decades. The Green Fund works like this. When someone joins or renews their membership in the PHIA, he or she may choose to contribute extra money toPHIA volunteers planted trees along Ebenezer Road in October 2008. the Perry Hall Green Fund. It’s very much like the Chesapeake Bay Fund on an income tax return. There is no requirement to contribute to the fund. It’s a voluntary program.

The PHIA will use whatever money is in the Green Fund to buy and plant trees along a selected corridor in the community. The PHIA’s goal is to “adopt” one new corridor each year for a tree planting.  

To donate, send your check or money order to the Perry Hall Improvement Association, P.O. Box 63, Perry Hall, MD 21128, with “Green Fund” in the memo section of the payment.  State employees who participate in the Maryland Charity Campaign can designate "7203" to contribute.

The 2008 Tree Planting

The PHIA planted about 50 trees this year along Ebenezer Road, from Perry Hall High School to the Perry Hall Square Shopping Center.  The trees included a blend of riverPHIA volunteers planted dozens of trees in October 2008. birches, blackgums, shumard oaks, willow oaks, pin oaks, redbuds and dogwoods. 

The Chesapeake Bay Trust provided a significant grant to help purchase trees and mulch.  Other cosponsors of the project included the Master Gardener Program; Gunpowder Valley Conservancy; Ferguson Landscaping Service; American Natives Nursery; The Mill; Ivy Hill Land Services; Dunkin' Donuts in the Honeygo Village Center; Pasta Blitz; and Rommel’s Ace Hardware.

Making a Difference

Throughout the United States, many communities are planting trees. Since 1989, the city of Chicago has planted more than half a million trees. New York and Washington, D.C. are also trying to recreate the “tree canopy” that provided shade and beautified neighborhoods in these cities.

We can do the same in Perry Hall, which has lost thousands of trees to bulldozers. Imagine a community in thirty or forty years where beautiful, mature trees line our major corridors. Tomorrow’s families will be grateful for the work we do today.