Things are growing in Tacoma, thanks in large part to the work of Tacoma Tree Foundation. The organization may only be seven years old, but they have already helped establish thousands of new trees across the city and are creating a healthier, happier, greener community in the process. Tacoma Tree Foundation doesn’t just plant trees—they educate and empower community members to be part of a mission to grow Tacoma’s tree canopy, starting in their own neighborhoods. In recognition of the organization’s impact on growing our urban forest and equity-focused approach, Parks Tacoma’s Nature & Environment Advisory Council presented Tacoma Tree Foundation with a Parks Champion Award in September 2025.

Tacoma Tree Foundation has grown from its humble roots in 2018 to become a leader for trees in Tacoma, and has served as a key partner to Parks Tacoma over the past seven years. The organizations share a goal to grow Tacoma’s tree canopy based on a clear need in our community. Despite the love for trees that many Tacomans share, our city has the least tree canopy of any in Western Washington at only 20%. This can have a real impact; not only are trees a beautiful part of nature, they also provide important functions for clean air, water filtration, climate resilience, and the mental and physical health of community members.

One of the primary ways Tacoma Tree Foundation has made an impact is by directly adding more trees to our urban forest. In 2024 alone, they were responsible for 5,300 new trees being planted. They host numerous tree giveaways, planting events and neighborhood-specific programs in areas with low tree equity. Through community engagement, education and support, they promote long-term growth and collective stewardship in the parts of our city that need it most. They are deeply rooted in partnerships, Parks Tacoma being just one of many agencies and organizations they have collaborated with. They have led planting projects at five Parks Tacoma properties, and work with other partners such as the City of Tacoma to grow our forest citywide.

The work doesn’t stop with planting trees. Tacoma Tree Foundation nurtures a community of passionate advocates and stewards through engaging events and programs. These include stewardship trainings, leadership cohorts, educational resources for youth and adults, as well as frequent workshops and presentations for community members. One of the most exciting things to grow from this impressive collection of engagement opportunities is the series of guided Tree Walks Tacoma Tree Foundation leads across the city. Many of the walks take place in Parks Tacoma parks, activating our spaces with free activities for community members. Tree Walks enrich the park experience and have even led to community members discovering new parks to visit.

“We love hosting events in neighborhoods or park spaces that sometimes don’t get a ton of attention,” shared Executive Director Lowell Wyse at the Parks Champion Award presentation. “I remember one time we had a walk at McKinley Park, in the McKinley Hill neighborhood, and people came to the event because they had never been to McKinley Park. I feel really proud that we’re able to highlight some of these maybe-underappreciated park spaces, and along the way we’re highlighting the importance of trees and parks in a city.”

He estimates Tacoma Tree Foundation has hosted over 100 Tree Walks and other community events in parks. Some of these Tree Walks take an educational approach, while others are centered around concepts of mindfulness.

An exemplary commitment to equity was one of the driving forces for the Nature & Environment Advisory Council selecting Tacoma Tree Foundation for a Parks Champion Award. Many of their tree walks are for a bilingual audience (Spanish and English), and, through their collaboration with the City of Tacoma Urban Forestry program, they also provided language assistance in five different languages at the annual Branch Out tree share event in 2024. They also have a strong presence at diverse cultural events across the city, such as Día de los Muertos at Eastside Community Center and the Earth Gay celebration at Swan Creek . Many of the presentations and workshops they provide in the community also highlight important topics related to tree equity. Their neighborhood-specific planting programs use data to bring trees to historically underserved areas with less tree canopy and greenspace. With an approach that works alongside community members every step of the way, Tacoma Tree Foundation empowers neighbors to take the growth and care of our urban forest into their own hands.