Media: Fianna Dickson, 625.6297. Parks & Recreation: 311 or 509.755.2489
Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 5:11 p.m.
SPOKANE – Twenty-five new street trees will be planted in the West Central neighborhood on Friday, April 23 as part of SpoCanopy’s goals for increased tree canopy cover.
The plantings will take place from 11 A.M. until 3 P.M. with volunteers meeting up at the West Central Community Center. Volunteers and staff are already lined up for the tree planting, which will follow local and state requirements and align with best practices as recommended by the Arbor Day Foundation.
SpoCanopy is a program of City of Spokane Urban Forestry and The Lands Council, aiming to ensure every neighborhood has access to trees and green space. SpoCanopy works with residents and volunteers to plant trees and beautify our city. The goal is for Spokane to have 40% canopy coverage by 2030.
The Lands Council staff and their volunteers conducted extensive outreach throughout the neighborhoods and identified places where trees were needed, and where residents are willing to care for them.
The trees are planted by The Lands Council staff and limited volunteers (due to Covid-19) with city arborist assistance, at no charge to residents. Avista and Townshend Winery are sponsors of the project.
In addition to the new street trees, this spring we are partnering with SpokaneScape to remove additional turf and replace with mulch and drought tolerant plants. Just by participating in this program, property owners can receive a reduction in their utility bill as an incentive for lowering their irrigation use and caring for their new trees and plants.
Requesting a Free Street Tree or Volunteering for a Planting
We are currently focusing plantings in Northeast Spokane neighborhoods because of low canopy density. If you are a Spokane City resident and you’d like a street tree, or you would like to volunteer with SpoCanopy, please go to https://landscouncil.org/urban-canopy. The planting location must be within the City of Spokane city limits, and within the right-of-way. The right-of-way area may be a defined planting strip, or in some neighborhoods, space behind a sidewalk, or area adjacent to a curb (with no sidewalk). More information can be found online at https://landscouncil.org/urban-canopy.
Tree Benefits
Trees provide a wide variety of benefits such as storm water mitigation, providing habitat for wildlife, and increasing property values. Trees also help to boost immune systems by reducing area pollution and air-borne particles. Studies have shown that time spent in nature and around trees can even reduce stress.
About City of Spokane Parks & Recreation
City of Spokane Parks and Recreation stewards nearly 120 properties across 4,000 acres of park land, including manicured parks, conservation lands, aquatic centers, golf course, sports complexes, and an arboretum. We also offer hundreds of recreation opportunities for all ages and abilities to improve the health and quality of life for our community. Enjoy all your city has to offer by visiting spokaneparks.org. Follow us @SpokaneParks on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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The City of Choice
509.625.6200
parks@spokanecity.org
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201
