Free street trees for South Tacoma.
The Community Tree Program, a partnership between Tacoma Tree Foundation and the City of Tacoma Urban Forestry Program, is bringing street trees to the South Tacoma neighborhood in October 2026. Residents in the designated project area of South Tacoma can sign up to receive free trees for their RIGHT-OF-WAY (ROW), along with other supporting services. Review “How it Works” below for more details!
Our goal is to distribute 300-400 hundred street trees across 120 homes within our project area! According to the City’s Tree Planting Prioritization tool, the Green Blocks: South Tacoma project area falls within Very High to High Tree Planting Priority census blocks. Planting trees in these areas helps to manage stormwater pollution, bolster community resilience, improve public health outcomes, and enhance overall quality of life. If you participate in Green Blocks, we encourage you to consider planting two or more trees in your ROW.
Tree requests are open from July 10th to August 17th. Requests are limited to preferences for evergreen trees and deciduous trees. We invite you to share your goal for tree planting (sound reduction, shade, beauty, improved air quality, etc.) to help guide us in selecting the right tree for you and your property.
Northern Boundary is s 47th st and S 56th st – Eastern Boundary is I-5 Southern Boundary is S 84th st – Western Boundary is City Limits.
How it Works: Tree Matching, Delivery, Planting, and Tree Care
The Community Tree Program team leads nearly every step of the Green Blocks process—making it easy for you to get trees planted in your neighborhood. After you submit your tree request, here’s what we do and what we ask of participants:
-
Verify your address is within the project area.
Visit your site to assess planting conditions.
Mark your planting area in white paint and submit utility locate requests to identify underground utilities present.
Review locate results and mark planting locations with wooden stake(s). Provide depaving services to paved or compacted gravel planting sites.
Match suitable tree species to your site based on tree characteristics, available space, utilities, and your stated goals.
Email you with your tree offer by September 11.
Deliver confirmed trees to your home the week of September 28.
Plant trees with volunteer teams during our community event on October 3, unless you prefer to plant on your own.
-
Confirm your tree selections by September 21 (preferably by email).
Commit to watering your new trees weekly for the first three years (April–September) to ensure they thrive.
Provide ongoing tree care throughout the tree’s lifetime. We will continue to offer educational workshops and webinars to help you along the way!
Optional: Join us on planting day and help get trees in the ground!
Paved or Compacted Planting Site?
Request Trees Anyway! You might be eligible for the City’s Depave Program! We can support depaving of 30 tree locations!
Paved surfaces are some of the biggest sources of pollution in the Puget Sound. Concrete prevents rain from absorbing into the ground and instead, the water washes pollutants like oil, metals, and sediment directly into storm drains.
Pavement also worsens summer heat through the "urban heat island effect" which lowers air quality and increases heat-related deaths, particularly in marginalized communities. Replacing pavement with trees and plants can cool urban areas, filter stormwater runoff, and benefit both people and wildlife.
Frequently Asked Questions:
-
We provide a variety of trees that are suitable for diverse planting sites and harsh urban conditions. Both deciduous and evergreen trees are included, with traits like fall color, shade, and noise reduction. We do not guarantee any specific trees. If you have a strong preference on tree species and size, we invite you to utilize the Tree Coupon Program or the Pierce Conservation District Urban Tree Sale.
The Green Blocks program prioritizes community members facing social, financial or physical barriers to planting trees. If you do not face these barriers and are eager to support the greening of South Tacoma, please consider volunteering or helping to spread the word. Scroll down to sign up for our planting event.
-
Yes, once we verify you are within project boundaries and have suitable planting space, we will submit utility locates. We will ensure tree selections and tree placements follow industry guidelines, such as planting only power line friendly trees at sites with overhead power and ensuring appropriate spacing between trees and other infrastructure like utilities. Your tree offer will factor in all these site-specific details.
-
Unfortunately, you won’t be eligible to receive trees through this program. However, you can take advantage of many other tree share programs. Check out the Trees for Greater Tacoma web page to find out which tree programs you qualify for. We always welcome tree enthusiasts to volunteer with us, become a tree steward, or attend our many tree education events!
-
Through the Community Tree Program, we’ll provide you with everything you need to care for your tree including: tree care resources, watering supplies, watering instructions, and seasonal reminders. We ask that participants commit to watering their tree(s) weekly for the first three years, April-September. This is the most important thing you can do to ensure your tree survives and thrives.
SAVE THE DATE
Volunteer Tree Planting Day
October 3, 2026
The Community Tree Program is rooted in partnership and community. With funding from the City of Tacoma’s Urban Forestry Program, our partnership supports the long-term growth and stewardship of Tacoma’s tree canopy
