Tacoma Program Offers Free Street Trees

A foundation in Tacoma, Washington is boosting the city’s tree canopy with an initiative dubbed Green Blocks that distributes free trees to residents. “The program seeks to reduce barriers to tree planting and foster stewardship among Tacoma residents. Increasing Tacoma’s tree canopy coverage helps combat the urban heat island effect, which exacerbates the health impacts of heat waves and worsens livability in urban areas,” explains Kevin Le for The Urbanist.

According to Le, trees currently cover just 20 percent of Tacoma’s area, lower than surrounding cities. The city has created a Tree Planting Priority Tool to map out which areas need trees most urgently. The City Council also passed a new ordinance making it easier to plant street trees in November 2023.

The Tacoma Tree Foundation (TTF) examines local conditions in each neighborhood to assess the best sites for new trees. Once residents apply, “TTF and City staff will review applications alongside the property’s characteristics to ensure enough plantable space and minimal interference with underground and overhead utilities.”

TTF offers the trees at no cost to residents who commit to caring for them in their critical first few years of life and plans to expand its efforts to support the trees throughout their lives. “Building upon existing giveaway and planting resources, TTF eventually plans to offer watering and monitoring services to ensure the planted trees are able to reach maturity.”