The Forestry element of the Parks and Open Space Division preserves and maintains all shade trees along public ways, parks, school grounds, cemeteries, and all other public grounds. The total number of trees under our jurisdiction is more than 50,000. The Forestry element provides for the safety of all public ways and grounds through the removal of dead and dangerous limbs and trees and is responsible for replacing trees in areas where they have been removed as appropriate. Street tree removals in the public right-of-way are managed by the Town Tree Warden and assisted by the Tree Planting Committee.

The mission of the Tree Planting Committee is to advise the Tree Warden on the species and placement of street trees and to hold public hearings for street tree removal requests. The three-member Tree Planting Committee, appointed by the Board of Selectmen, was established in 1886, and is the longest standing Tree Planting Committee in the nation.