Tom Hylton

Pulitzer Prize–winning editorialist Tom Hylton has spent the past twenty-five years writing, speaking, and trying to remedy what he describes as the "twin blights of suburban sprawl and urban decay." Poorly planned city development, increased reliance on cars, and ever-expanding suburban sprawl prompted Hylton to act and make a difference in his local community and beyond. Hylton is the founder and president of Save Our Land, Save Our Towns, a nonprofit organization formed to educate, advocate, and ultimately have an impact on public policy related to the planning and design of American cities and towns.

In 1990, Tom Hylton wrote a series of editorials on land use and planning that won a Pulitzer Prize. Following a one-year fellowship studying the issues surrounding community planning, Hylton published a book entitled Save Our Land, Save Our Towns, which serves as a call to action for legislators and average citizens alike to address the much-needed reform of land development policy.

In addition to his advocacy, Hylton and a group of community leaders in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, founded Trees, Inc., a non-profit organization whose goal is to raise funds for the planting of new trees along the streets of the community. In its first four years, the group raised nearly $500,000 in support of its efforts. By the early 1990s, Trees, Inc., had shifted its focus from new plantings to the maintenance of street trees. Hylton continues to serve on its Board of Directors, and he and his colleagues at Trees, Inc., have planted or replaced over 2,500 trees in Pottstown. Trees, Inc. also owns and manages two parks.

Tom Hylton is a frequent speaker on these issues and has given presentations across the country to diverse audiences, from the National Governors Association Annual Conference to small groups interested in fighting back against suburban sprawl.