Pierce County Community Tree Program
The Pierce County Community Tree Program is bringing free trees to Parkland, Spanaway, Midland, and South Hill from 2026-2027.
This program is working to distribute trees, foster community connection, and provide educational opportunities to support the tree canopy in urban unincorporated Pierce County. Our focus is where the need for trees is the greatest. Planting trees in these communities will help cool our neighborhoods, improve our health, increase home values, and enhance quality of life!
Ways to get Involved
Pierce County Tree Share - October 24th, 2026 | Parkland/Spanaway Library
A free, walk-up event for residents of Parkland, Spanaway, Midland, and South Hill to receive free trees
Green Blocks - Coming in Spring 2027
A full service tree planting program where residents can receive assistance with tree selection, delivery, and planting
Tree Stewards
A community training focused on how to care for trees and connect with neighbors around the urban forest
Pierce County Tree Share
This fall, residents in Parkland, Spanaway, Midland, and South Hill can receive free trees and resources at a tree share. This is a free, walk-up event where residents can choose from a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees in small containers. Assistance with species selection, planting guidelines, and general tree care will be provided.
Join us and take home a tree!
Urban Heat in Pierce County
In summer of 2024, Pierce County conducted a community heat-mapping project to collect data on urban heat and create a map to explore which areas of the County are hottest. Concrete, streets, and buildings trap heat, which becomes a problem during the hot summer months. Areas that trap heat are known as urban heat islands, and the phenomenon is called the urban heat island effect.
Some spots in Spanaway and South Hill recorded afternoon temperatures that were almost 10°F warmer than surrounding areas near water. Trees can be our greatest ally during heat waves by creating shade and water vapor that cools the air, streets, and buildings around them. They can lower the surrounding temperature up to 15°F and prevent heat related illness. Explore the project and heat map at Pierce County Heat Watch.
Why Trees Matter
A healthy tree canopy can provide important benefits to communities, such as:
Reducing temperatures through shading and evapotranspiration, helping to reduce the urban heat island effect
Improving air quality by reducing the amount of harmful pollutants
Reducing impacts from stormwater by absorbing and filtering runoff
Increasing equity, as benefits from urban greening can be most impactful for overburdened communities
Funding for this program provided by Pierce County
