G.R.I.T.
Greening Research In Tacoma
Tacoma Mall Neighborhood 2022-2023
The Tacoma Mall neighborhood is home to many residents, businesses, and industries. However, this active neighborhood also has more pavement and less tree canopy coverage than the city-wide averages, making it several degrees hotter. These characteristics also contribute to air pollution and polluted stormwater runoff that harm salmon, southern resident killer whales, and other wildlife. With the mall subarea designated as an urban growth center, it is expected that many more people will live there in the near future.
So how will this neighborhood add shade and reduce pavement while also building more housing and upgrading other infrastructure? And how will these changes impact the people who live there? These questions matter not only for South Tacoma, but also for all of Tacoma, Pierce County, and Western Washington. And we want to help crack the code!
The Greening Research in Tacoma project (or G.R.I.T.) is an effort to understand more about how human health and increased greening intersect in South Tacoma. This unique collaboration of the Tacoma Tree Foundation, The Nature Conservancy in Washington, the University of Washington, and the City of Tacoma is funded by an award from the Puget Sound Partnership and a grant from the U.S. Forest Service.
Learn more about this project!
TREE PLANTING
The City of Tacoma is adding 300+ street trees and other green infrastructure as part of the Madison District capital improvement project. The City offers free street trees for the right-of-way through Grit City Trees and Tree Coupons to buy trees at a discount from participating nurseries.
WELL-BEING STUDY
The University of Washington is recruiting 700+ people from the Tacoma Mall neighborhood for a study of the relationship between trees and human well-being. Participants will be compensated for answering survey questions.
The Nature Conservancy in Washington (TNC) has installed 40+ temperature loggers around the neighborhood to measure and track local temperatures and study any changes over time. TNC will also work with community members to develop community-led science projects related to urban greening and sustainability.
RELATIONSHIPS & TREES
Tacoma Tree Foundation (TTF) is providing community support, building relationships, sharing information, and identifying new greening opportunities. TTF will distribute 300 street trees to neighbors through the Green Blocks program and host a variety of free events, such as educational walks, tree giveaways & plantings.
What you can do
Share your ideas about how and where to remove pavement, plant trees, conduct science projects, and build community!
Participate in the UW well-being study. Adults living in South Tacoma may be eligible to take surveys and be compensated for their time.
Contact us join the community advisory group that meets quarterly to discuss priorities related to neighborhood greening.
Contact us to learn more about the economic, social, and environmental benefits of tree planting, natural landscaping, pavement removal, and other sustainable choices in your neighborhood
What we can do
Support local efforts to study and understand human and environmental health.
Provide resources related to greening your neighborhood and your own backyard, including free trees!
Share planting advice for all property types—including businesses, houses, and apartments. We are also looking for opportunities to work directly with existing community organizations and religious centers.
Present about topics related to environmental sustainability and human well-being at community events.
Organize neighborhood-based tree-planting events.
Seeking volunteers for GRIT community research:
Researchers at the University of Washington (UW) are studying greening efforts and the relationship between environmental surroundings and human well-being in the Tacoma Mall area, and are seeking participants for community interviews. The UW team is conducting this research as part of the Greening Research in Tacoma (GRIT) project, and in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, the Tacoma Tree Foundation, and the City of Tacoma.
Interview participants will have the opportunity to share their experience in and vision for the Tacoma Mall community. Participants will also be able to provide their feedback/perspectives about environmental surroundings, neighborhood greening efforts, neighborhood change, and related challenges and priorities. The research team is interested in sharing findings with the community and synthesizing feedback into reports that can inform local decision-making by highlighting community needs.
Depending on participant preference and availability, interviews can take place over Zoom or in person. Interviews typically take one hour or less, and the research team offers compensation for participation. If you are interested in participating or learning more, please contact the research team at greeningresearch@uw.edu or (425) 998-6752.
