Tree Stewards Honored with 2024 Bill Thomas Park Volunteer Award
Published on May 13, 2025
On Tuesday, May 13, Arlington announced the Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria as the recipients of the 2024 Bill Thomas Park Volunteer Award. The award was presented in recognition of the organization’s outstanding contributions to environmental stewardship, education, and community engagement.
"The Tree Stewards are a model for what community-driven stewardship looks like,” said County Board Chair, Takis Karantonis. “Their dedication not only strengthens Arlington’s tree canopy but also empowers residents to make their own meaningful impact for a greener, healthier future.”
Since 2001, the Tree Stewards have been invaluable partners in Arlington’s mission to protect and enhance the County’s trees. Their programming focuses on planting and maintenance, as well as public education. In 2024 alone, Tree Steward volunteers contributed 1,718 hours across a vast range of successful programs.
Among their many initiatives is their Structural Pruning Program, which focuses on maintenance of young trees to ensure structural stability. In collaboration with Arlington County’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the Tree Stewards pruned over 3,000 young trees, demonstrating their dedication to long-term tree health. Other impressive efforts include their mulching projects which improved soil health across four locations in the County, as well as their invasive species removals which involved teaching others how to safely and effectively remove invasive plants from County parks and public spaces.
Within the last year, their noteworthy educational efforts included a tree planting event with Marymount University, where they worked with students to plant 30 large trees in Fort Barnard Park located in a tree equity area. Their community advocacy has played a key role in supporting a complex survey of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance, a collaborative effort with County staff and contractors to develop a guide for maintaining trees alongside solar panels and contributing to ongoing citizen science projects that analyze trends and help inform County policies.
The Tree Stewards’ broad programming and contributions have been essential components in enhancing environmental sustainability in Arlington. Their resounding commitment and impacts are felt across Arlington County— serving as key factors for their selection as the 2024 Bill Thomas Park Volunteer Award winners.
About the Bill Thomas Park Volunteer Award
The Bill Thomas Outstanding Park Service Volunteer Award was established to pay tribute to lifelong parks volunteer, Bill Thomas and encourage residents who demonstrate a passionate dedication and support for Arlington’s natural resources, dynamic programs, and public open spaces. Visit the County’s website for more information about the award and past winners.