For more information about Green Tacoma Day:

Jennifer Chang, Green Cities/Forterra, jchang@forterra.org, (253) 383-7245

For more information about City of Tacoma Arbor Day:

GwenSchuler, Media and Communications, gschuler@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5160
Carrie McCausland, Media and Communications, cmccausland@cityoftacoma.org,(253) 591-2005

Each October, during one of Tacoma’s biggest service days of the year, volunteers come together to restore urban green space across the city of Tacoma. Residents, businesses, community groups and individuals are invited to join the Green Tacoma Partnership and the City of Tacoma in fun, engaging activities torestore and explore the city’s local green spaces.

On Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 events will celebrate both Green Tacoma Day and Arbor Day, which coincides with Green Tacoma Day, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This Arbor Day, Tacoma celebrates 20 years as a Tree City USA community and Tacoma Public Utility’s 10^th year as a TreeLine USA utility. The festivities willprovide educational and family-friendly activities at Wright Park and restoration projects across the city. All community members are welcome and noexperience is needed to participate.

Green Tacoma Day is an annual celebration of the Green Tacoma Partnership’s work torestore 1,881 acres of urban green space, while Arbor Day celebrates the planting, growing, and caring of Tacoma’s trees.  The service day offers great opportunities for the Tacoma community to get to know each other and the local green spaces.

“I participate as a way to connectwith others in caring for our planet. I encounter great people who are energetic, knowledgeable and willing to make a difference in Tacoma,” said Monty Smith, Director of Sustainable Roots at the Northwest Leadership Foundation.

Restoration activities will range from removing weeds and invasive plants to planting native trees and shrubs at locations across Tacoma.

Science and Math Institute student, Daemien Zarapkar noted, “Participating at Green TacomaDay 2013 was exciting and a good learning experience. I experienced something marvelous – I felt like I actually did something for the environment. I personally participated for volunteer hours, but I gained more than I bargained for - I gained hope for nature. I saw … community members willing to clean upthe environment.”

Restoration activities are planned at First Creek, Franklin Park, Garfield Gulch, Gog le hite Wetlands, Julia’s Gulch, McKinley Park, Oak Tree Park, Pacific Lutheran University, Puget Creek, Swan Creek, Tacoma Nature Center, Tacoma Community College and Wapato Hills Urban Wildlife Habitat. Those not wanting to get theirhands dirty can join fun and games celebrating trees and the fall colors at Wright Park.

Visit greentacoma.org to learn more about the GreenTacoma Partnership, find Green Tacoma Day event details and sign up for arestoration event near you. Registration is not required, but is encouraged.

Green Tacoma Day kicks off the fall Green City Days series, which is expected to attract more than 2,000 participants from across the Puget Sound region to celebrate the benefits of urban green spaces. Following Tacoma’s day is Green Everett Day on Oct. 18, Green Kent Day and Green Redmond Day on Oct. 25 and Green Seattle Day on Nov. 8, 2014.

Everett, Kent, Kirkland, Redmond, Seattle and Tacoma make up the Green Cities Network that collectively works to restore over 7,500 acres of publicly owned urbangreen spaces. Forterra works with local nonprofits, community groups, cityagencies, neighborhood leaders and local businesses to support healthy urban green spaces for the future of our region through the Green City Partnerships program. People can learn more about Green City Partnerships and Forterra at forterra.org/greencities.

City of Tacoma, Metro Parks Tacoma, Forterra, Citizens for a Healthy Bay, TAGRO, Portof Tacoma and Pierce Conservation District are all Green Tacoma Day partners helping the event grow and accomplish more work every year.   

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