Frequently Asked Questions
I reported a dangerous or fallen tree to Montgomery Parks. Now, what happens?
Once you report a dangerous or fallen tree to us, the Montgomery Parks Public Information & Customer Service Office will email you a work order number that you can reference throughout the process. Once the work order number is issued, an inspector from our Arboriculture Section will visit the affected site within 30 days to inspect the tree and location. If tree maintenance is necessary, the work is prioritized and scheduled with respect to the tree crew's work schedule. Note: our crews must prioritize work to address the most hazardous issues first. You may check on your work request by emailing Service.Center@MontgomeryParks.org or calling 301-495-2595.
Is Montgomery Parks responsible for the removal of debris from private property?
Montgomery Parks is not responsible for the removal of debris from private property. The Arboriculture Section of the Montgomery Parks Department has a duty to inspect and mitigate risks associated with trees located on park property, especially in and around amenities or areas where we invite the public. In compliance with existing Maryland state laws, it is not our duty to provide courtesy removal of trees and debris from private property. Providing this service would tax our fiscal and human resources to the degree that would hamper our ability to inspect and maintain trees growing on Park property.
How does the Park Arborist Inspector prioritize work requests?
The Montgomery Parks Department has an active policy to maintain the safety of Parkland from potential damages and/or injury resulting from trees considered a “high risk” of failure. The Arboriculture Section strives to eliminate, in a timely fashion, any tree growing on Parkland deemed to be at high risk of loss. Priority is placed on trees with the highest risk of failure, i.e., trees needing an “emergency” response. The standard for rating the risk of loss associated with any given tree is determined by the Park’s Arborist Inspectors using their professional experience and following the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) a300 Tree Risk Assessment Standard and the International Society of Arboriculture’s Best Management Practices for Tree Risk Assessment. The Montgomery Parks Urban Forester administers the program and has final judgment in all matters concerning mitigation measures taken for any tree deemed to be of “high risk” or “emergency.”
What determines the timeline for the completion of tree removal work?
There are over 400 parks in Montgomery County, which encompass over 36,000 acres of land. The Arboriculture Section consistently has hundreds of active work requests for tree work that have already been inspected and prioritized and are waiting in the queue to be completed by our small staff of highly trained tree professionals. If the Park Arborist Inspector determines tree maintenance work is needed, the estimated time frame to complete the work is based on tree risk as outlined below:
How do I find out the status of my existing work request?
Call or email the Public Information & Customer Service Office at 301-495-2595 or info@montgomeryparks.org.