To celebrate the 135th anniversary of the 1886 founding of Hyattsville, the Tree Board and City Council invite residents to identify trees on their property that were likely growing when Christopher Clark Hyatt began incorporating our city.

Citizens who have a Heritage Tree can apply to receive a commemorative plaque! Send an email to heritagetrees@hyattsville.org with your address, tree variety, and it's circumference. A member of the Tree Board will contact you to come verify the information. Submissions accepted until April 30, 2021.

How do you know if you have a Heritage Tree? Measure the tree's circumference at 4.5 feet above ground. Check your measurement against the chart below:
 

CIRCUMFERENCE	TREE VARIETY
120-140"	River Birch, Silver Maple, Pin Oak, Linden, Tulip
90-110"	Elm, Green Ash, Red Oak, Sweet Gum, Willow Oak, Walnut, Red Maple, Blue Spruce,  Sycamore
60-85”	Sugar Maple, White Birch, Black Cherry, Douglas Fir, White Oak, Shagbark Hickory,  Ironwood (Hophornbeam), Beech

STUDENT CONTEST!

Middle and high school students living or attending school in Hyattsville can submit an essay, piece of poetry, or artwork responding to the question: “If trees could talk, what would your tree say about  events during its lifetime?”

One written entry and one artwork will each be selected to receive a $150 prize!

Submissions will be accepted between March 1 - April 30, 2021. All submissions must be created by the student. Only one essay, piece of poetry or artwork may be submitted by each student.

ESSAYS AND POETRY are limited to 500 words. Written entries can be submitted as PDF or Word Documents.

The following types of artworks will be accepted. Up to three high quality photos or scans of the artwork can be submitted as .JPG or .PDF files.

DRAWINGS (pencil, ink, pastel, crayon, chalk, marker, charcoal, other)
PAINTINGS (acrylic, watercolor, oil)
PRINTMAKING (block print, monoprint, collagraph, serigraph, lithograph and other forms)
MIXED MEDIA (collage)
3D MEDIA (ceramics, sculpture, found objects, natural materials)
original photography (student’s own work, black and white or color)
DIGITAL MEDIA (original content with visual and audio appeal, not to exceed 3 minutes)

Please note: If photography is used that is not original (taken by the student), cite the source and be sure there is no copyright infringement.

SUBMIT YOUR RESPONSES HERE