Lexington residents will get their first chance to shape the town's long-term tree strategy at a hybrid public meeting on Wednesday, July 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lexington Police Station Community Room, 1575 Massachusetts Ave.

The session is part of the town's effort to develop its first Urban Forest Master Plan, a document the town says will guide how Lexington grows and maintains trees in yards, parks, and along streets "for decades to come." The town has partnered with Davey Resource Group to produce the plan.

According to the town's project page, the July 29 meeting will open with a presentation on the master plan, followed by interactive activities where attendees can flag priorities and concerns. The evening wraps with an "Ask an Arborist" Q&A session. Snacks and light refreshments will be provided.

The meeting is hybrid, meaning residents can attend in person or join remotely. The town has not yet posted the virtual participation link but says it will be shared on the project page at lexingtonma.gov/2692/Urban-Forest-Master-Plan once available.plan would do

The Urban Forest Master Plan is scheduled for completion by December 2026 and will then go before the Select Board for approval and adoption, according to the town's website. Once adopted, it would set priorities for tree planting, care, and canopy growth across the community.

Lexington already invests in its canopy. The 2026 Annual Town Meeting authorized the Lexington Tree Fund revolving fund at $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 under Article 9 of the warrant. The Tree Warden and Tree Committee coordinate seasonal plantings with a stated goal of increasing canopy coverage, prioritizing large shade trees where space allows.

Town resources identify active threats to Lexington's urban forest, including the Emerald Ash Borer, Beech Leaf Disease, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, and the Spotted Lanternfly, which established its first Massachusetts population in 2021.

Beyond the July 29 meeting, residents can fill out an anonymous online survey at surveymonkey.com/r/LexUFMP to share their priorities. The town says additional community meetings will be scheduled and announced as the plan develops.

Barbara Tarrh, a CLC Walks coordinator and community contributor to The Lexington Observer, publicized the meeting in a July 17 post, describing Lexington's trees as making the town "a cooler, cleaner, more beautiful place to live."

The next known milestone after the public meeting is the plan's December 2026 completion and presentation to the Select Board for adoption.