Live in this Tacoma neighborhood? You’re eligible for free trees
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Hilltop residents can request free right-of-way trees; applications close Feb. 2.
- Green Blocks aims to plant about 600 street trees in Hilltop by end of 2027.
- Trees delivered week of March 9; staff will water monthly; volunteers aid planting.
Residents in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma can request that free trees be planted and watered in the right-of-way in front of their house or apartment if they apply by Feb. 2, according to the Tacoma Tree Foundation.
This will be the second year of a three-year Green Blocks program, which has a goal to plant about 600 trees in Hilltop public right-of-ways by the end of 2027.
Residents must live between 6th Avenue to the north, Tacoma Avenue South to the east, the South 27th Street bluff to the south and State Street to the west to be eligible for the program, the foundation said. Property owners must be the ones to request trees, although renters are encouraged to have their landlords apply, planting director Jaala Smith told The News Tribune on Friday.
Apply online at https://tacomatreefoundation.org/green-blocks-hilltop. Funding for the project is provided by the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program in partnership with the State of Washington Department of Natural Resources, Urban and Community Forestry Program, communications coordinator Julia Wolf said.
Like many American cities, Tacoma has a history of racist redlining and restrictive covenants that limited where certain racial or religious groups could live until the early 1960s. Tacoma Community Forestry has an interactive map that shows where redlining occurred, which were often areas devoid of trees and other green spaces.
The Hilltop neighborhood was one such place, which is why the Tacoma Tree Foundation has focused on planting more trees in that area, Smith said. According to the foundation, Hilltop has about half of the tree canopy coverage as the Tacoma average, which makes its residents more vulnerable to heat and respiratory illnesses.
Last year the Tacoma Tree Foundation planted 60 trees at 35 households in Hilltop, and it hopes to plant 200 trees this year, Smith said.
How does the program work?
Tree requests opened Jan. 9 and close Feb. 2. Requesters won’t be able to request certain trees, but they can make requests on what they hope the tree will provide (shade, flowers, a noise barrier, etc.), Smith said. Tree offers will be made Feb. 19 and accepted March 2. Trees will be delivered the week of March 9. The Tacoma Tree Foundation will provide soil, mulch, stakes and a water bag (which slowly releases water, so the roots are saturated).
There is no limit to the number of trees a property owner can request, but Smith said they should only request trees they can take care of. Staff will try to pick the largest trees that will fit in the right-of-way, Smith said.
Over the next couple of months, Tacoma Tree Foundation staff will make sure appropriate permits are approved and ensure the trees are appropriate for the sites and don’t impact any power, gas or sewer lines, Smith said. All the trees are approved street trees that are designed to be resilient to heat, wind and pests, Smith said.
On March 14 the Tacoma Tree Foundation will host a family-friendly planting event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tacoma Community House, where volunteers will help residents plant and water the trees they requested. Smith said there will be music, poetry readings, speakers, kids activities and other organizations there to share resources. Those who don’t live in Hilltop are invited to join, and they will teach people how to plant trees as well, Smith said.
Every month from May to September, staff will drive a big water truck around Hilltop to water and check on the trees, Smith said. Property owners are still expected to water the trees regularly, as they are fragile in their first three years after being planted, Smith said.
Can I get a free tree if I don’t live in Hilltop?
Smith said there are a number of other programs that offer free or discounted trees in other areas of Tacoma and Pierce County. A list of resources can be found online at https://tacomatreefoundation.org/treestacoma.
The Tacoma Tree Foundation’s seasonal “tree share” programs pop up four to five times a year, where residents can be connected with trees and shrubs that are easy to transport, plant and care for.
All residents can apply to partake in a free five-hour tree steward training (with free lunch and a $150 stipend) on Jan. 31 to learn more about neighborhood tree planting and how to grow and protect Tacoma’s urban canopy. The deadline to apply is Jan. 26.
