What is the Green Blocks program?
The Tacoma Tree Foundation is bringing trees to McKinley Hill this Fall with the support of the City of Tacoma, Urban Forestry Program. Trees are critical for Tacoma. They help to reduce and filter stormwater, cool the neighborhood, slow traffic, and help residents create a greener community!
Residents of McKinley Hill can sign up with us to receive free trees for their right-of-way this fall! Our goal is to distribute over 250 trees to the project area surrounded by I-5 to the north, East M Street to the east, E 48th Street to the south, and State Rout 7 to the west.
Requests for trees will open in August and close on Sunday, September 17, 2023. This is a fully supported tree-planting program that includes:
Tree Selection Support
Utility locate assistance
Permit submittals
Delivery of trees and materials (TAGRO, stakes, ties, and watering supplies)
Tree planting assistance upon request
Wednesday, August 16: Sign up to be a canvassing volunteer by this date.
Thursday, August 17: Canvassing Volunteer Training.
Friday, September 8: Apply to be a Tree Steward by this date.
Saturday, September 16: Tree Steward Training.
Sunday, September 17: Deadline to request free trees.
Saturday, October 7: Tree Captain Training.
Monday, October 9: Type of tree(s) and quantity will be confirmed via email.
Saturday, October 14: Distribution and tree-planting assistance. This is GREEN TACOMA DAY!
TIMELINE
Become a Volunteer
Do you want to support greening efforts in the neighborhood? Become a Volunteer! We will be distributing 250 free trees on October 14 (which is also Green Tacoma Day). For this program to be a success, we need your help!
We are looking for volunteers of all ages to help us plant trees (no experience required).
Sign up to volunteer by Thursday, October 12, 2023.
Become a Tree Captain
Would you like to take a leadership role and help plant trees? TTF Tree Captains are volunteers who will take a leadership role by supervising a small team of fellow planting volunteers. These teams will work together to plant trees at the homes of neighbors who have requested planting assistance on October 14th (Green Blocks: McKinley Hill) and/or November 4th (Branch Out). Join us for this short training if you are ready to learn more about tree planting techniques, “right tree, right place” guidelines, safety, and supervision.
By offering planting assistance, we are able to lower barriers to tree planting across the Tacoma area. Join us!
NOTE: If you have previous experience and are confident about leading a team but are unable to attend this training, please e-mail us at info@tacomatreefoundation.org with “Fall Tree Captains” as the subject line.
Otherwise, we invite you to attend our free Tree Captain training on October 7 from 1-3pm . Register below by October 6 at noon.
What Types of Trees Do We Offer?
This list is subject to availability. For more details on planting in the right-of-way, visit www.cityoftacoma.org/planting
Small Trees
Medium Trees
Large Trees
Green Blocks is a program of Tacoma Tree Foundation. This project is in partnership with the City of Tacoma Urban Forestry Program. Funding provided by the City of Tacoma.
