Parks Tacoma is working with partners in support of projects that will help the city reach 30 percent tree canopy by 2030

TACOMA, WA: Trees are the lifeblood of a vibrant community, offering multiple health benefits and connecting us to the natural world.

They provide shade on sweltering days and can reduce temperatures by up to 14 degrees. They improve air quality, act as a buffer for noise pollution, reduce flooding, make our streets safer and beautify our neighborhoods.

In short, trees make cities more livable.

With Tacoma having the least amount of tree canopy coverage of any city in the Puget Sound region, several agencies and community groups are working to boost the canopy from 20 percent to 30 percent by 2030.

The collaboration and commitment to greening up Tacoma in an equitable way prompted the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to recently award $1.3 million in grant funding to five projects.

Two of those projects, expanding a food forest at Charlotte’s Blueberry Park and creating an Urban Forest Management Plan as a roadmap for how and where to plant trees over the next two decades, directly impact Tacoma parks.

“Working together to bring more trees to Tacoma ensures we focus on the priorities of neighborhoods we serve, especially in historically underserved areas, and make the entire community healthier,” said Parks Tacoma Board President Andrea Smith.

Urban Forestry Management Plan

Parks Tacoma stewards more than 1,000 acres of forest – about 30 percent of Tacoma’s existing tree canopy.

Whether it’s the ancient forests at Point Defiance Park, the rare Garry Oaks, sprawling Western red cedars or others, people are drawn to parks in part because of trees.

Although several past plans have addressed tree care and planning, Parks Tacoma hasn’t had a comprehensive Urban Forest Management Plan since the 1990’s. A $110,000 grant from DNR is helping that work get started and is expected to be complete by June 2025.

“This will be the guiding document to maintaining, preserving and improving our urban forest throughout all Tacoma parks,” said Mark McDonough, urban forester for Parks Tacoma.

A recent report shows 68 percent of Parks Tacoma’ properties are covered with tree canopy and another 20 percent are available for planting.

The Urban Forest Management Plan will lay out where plantings are possible, when they should be done and how they could be funded over the next 20 years. The framework will also dive into forest fire management and include a review of existing policies for tree maintenance, and likely create new ones.

“Trees are vital to our well-being, and we’re committed to carefully stewarding the ones already treasured by the public and envisioning how to improve our parks by adding more,” McDonough said.

Food Forest at Blueberry Park

Charlotte’s Blueberry Park has connected and supported community from the very beginning.

First farmed in 1929, the site operated as a blueberry farm from 1952 to 1968, then was considered as a high school or sports playfield after the farm closed up shop. Neighbors, however, banded together to keep blueberries on the land and in 1997, the 22-acre lot east of Interstate 5 became a park.

People swarm in summer months to glean from more than 3,300 organic blueberry bushes offering five varieties. A community garden built in 2018 with bond money offers residents a chance to plant their own vegetables, fruit and flowers. Leftover produce is distributed to South Tacoma neighbors or food banks.

Volunteers gather on the first Saturday of the month to weed, prune and restore natural areas of the park. In 2010, Parks Tacoma renamed the park in honor of Charlotte Valbert, a longtime advocate of the park and founder of Friends of Blueberry Park.

Now, the South End Neighborhood Council (SENCo) is partnering with Parks Tacoma to expand the food forest with up to 40 trees, with a supporting $171,000 grant from DNR through the Climate Commitment Act.

“We want Blueberry Park to be a year-round food forest where anybody can come in at any time and take something nutritious away from it,” said Kevin Johnson, Parks Tacoma’ community and special projects coordinator.

The project includes money to pay cultural gardening groups as consultants of which fruit and nut trees to plant, ensuring all neighbors can find familiar foods.

Ideas already being considered include persimmon, pear, apple, cherry, chestnut, walnut and hazelnut.

“The South End has a lot of food insecurity issues and a lack of green spaces,” said Rachel Wilkie, SENCo’s vice chair. “Working together for food insecurity, healthy air and green spaces to go for mental health will bring new life to the park and improve food insecurity and recreation for future generations.”

In the South End, 14 percent of people identify as foreign born, with that number reaching 23 percent in the neighborhoods around Blueberry Park. Many cannot find desired culturally significant foods in local grocery stores, and many do not have an accessible grocery store within walking distance, making it a food desert.

The project will also remove invasive plants, as well as build accessible pathways throughout the park.

Other Tree Projects Underway in Tacoma

Out of 122 statewide applications for DNR urban forestry grants, five were awarded in Tacoma to improve tree equity and enhance urban tree canopy.

Parks Tacoma may not be directly partnered with the other three projects, but they all intertwine to get us closer to a 30 percent tree canopy coverage by 2030 and enhance the lives of all who live in Tacoma.

“Improving tree canopy coverage isn’t something we can accomplish alone; we must foster collaboration with partners across sectors to meet our shared goals for Tacoma,” said Mayor Victoria Woodards. “Together, we can create healthier, more resilient communities where trees thrive, providing shade, cleaner air, and a better quality of life for all.”

Other projects include:

• The City of Tacoma’s SafeTREE Routes for School will plant trees along walking corridors at six schools in under-served neighborhoods, as well as in adjoining neighborhoods. The six schools are Mann Elementary, Giaudrone Middle, Blix Elementary, Boze Elementary, Gray Middle and Larchmont Elementary. As an educational component, Tacoma Public Schools will add an urban forestry school curriculum during the 3-year plan.
• Tacoma Tree Foundation will be planting 600 trees on residential properties over the next three years.
• Washington State University will inventory trees across Tacoma and assess mortality rates for recent plantings.

# # #

Media Contact: 

Stacia Glenn, Public Information Officer/Parks Tacoma
[email protected], (253) 345-0948