FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 22, 2016

MEDIA CONTACTS

Gwen Schuler, Media and Communications, gschuler@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152

Stacy Ellifritt, Media and Communications, stacy.ellifritt@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2005

Celebrate Green Tacoma Day and Arbor Day on Oct. 1

--Keep Tacoma Green by Volunteering at One of 10 Sites--

Residents, businesses, community groups and individuals are invited to celebrate Green Tacoma Day and Arbor Day, on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  These events are the perfect opportunity to learn more about urban forests across the city through fun, educational activities and restoration projects.

Green Tacoma Day is an annual celebration of the Green Tacoma Partnership’s work to restore 1,881 acres of urban green space, while Arbor Day celebrates the planting, growing, and caring of Tacoma’s trees.  This day of service offers great opportunities for the Tacoma community to get to know each other and their local green spaces. All are welcome and no experience is necessary.

There are a number of activities available to choose from that each highlight a different way to support the city’s urban forests and green spaces. Restoration activities will range from removing weeds and invasive plants to planting native trees and shrubs at nine locations across Tacoma. Learn how to plant a tree and help increase Tacoma’s tree canopy with a large tree planting at Titlow Park. Participants can also help transform a paved median into a green space on South Thompson and South Yakima avenues at South 46th Street for the Depave project. 

Anyone interested in keeping Tacoma green in their own backyard as well as in local green spaces is encouraged to check out the Tree Coupon Program. Saturday, Oct. 1, marks the kickoff for the fifth season of the program open to Tacoma and Pierce County residents. For more information, visit cityoftacoma.org/treecoupon. 

Having access to healthy parks and urban trees is vital to our cities and quality of life. Eight cities including Kent, Everett, Kirkland, Redmond, Seattle, Tacoma, Tukwila and Puyallup make up the Green Cities Network, collectively working to restore and maintain over 7,500 acres of publicly owned urban natural areas and forests. Each Green City has partnered with Forterra to establish a community-based restoration program that brings together local non-profits, community groups, city agencies, neighborhood leaders, and local businesses to support healthy urban green spaces for the future of our region. People can learn more about this partnership at forterra.org/greencities.

This Arbor Day, Tacoma celebrates 22 years as a Tree City USA community and Tacoma Public Utility’s 12th year as a Tree Line USA utility.

Green Tacoma Day partners include City of Tacoma, Metro Parks Tacoma, Forterra, Citizens for a Healthy Bay and Pierce Conservation District.

Details for the Ninth Annual Green Tacoma Day and Arbor Day

When:  Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Project sites include Browns Point Playfield, Franklin Park, Garfield Gulch, Gog-le-hi-te Wetlands, Julia’s Gulch, McKinley Park, Oak Tree Park, Ryan’s Park, Tacoma Community College, Tacoma Nature Center, Titlow Park, Wapato Hills Park, Wapato Lake Park, and the Depave event on South Thompson and South Yakima avenues at South 46th Street.

Event Contacts:

Richard Madison, Metro Parks Tacoma, RichardM@tacomaparks.com, (253) 202-5978

Sara Best, City of Tacoma, sbest@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 502-2244

Melissa Buckingham, Pierce Conservation District, melissab@piercecountycd.org, (253) 845-9770 x109

Visit cityoftacoma.org/greentacomaday to find event details and sign up for a site near you. Registration is not required, but is encouraged.

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