Help Make Tacoma Greener on October 10

What could you change about Tacoma in one Saturday morning? On October 10, the answer might be a new tree, a stretch of restored habitat or a park better prepared for the seasons ahead.

Green Tacoma Day brings volunteers to parks and natural areas across the city from 9 a.m. to noon. The annual event is organized by the Green Tacoma Partnership, with projects for people joining on their own, with friends or as a family. No previous restoration experience is required.

One of this year’s projects has a particularly tangible goal. At Wapato Hills Park, volunteers with Parks Tacoma, the City and Tacoma Tree Foundation plan to plant 18 trees. Some will be fruit trees that, as they grow, will form an edible orchard for residents. Volunteers will also mulch existing trees ahead of winter.

A different Wapato Hills crew will work in the park’s rare Oregon white oak prairie. That project calls for removing Scotch broom and nonnative blackberry, spreading native prairie seeds, and learning about the habitat volunteers are helping protect.

At Senator Rosa Franklin Park, the work will include planting native species, spreading mulch and removing invasive plants. The city’s broader list also includes projects focused on the qʷiqʷəlut salt marsh, stormwater drain marking and other neighborhood green spaces. Volunteers can choose the kind of work and location that appeal to them.

These jobs matter after the volunteers go home. Trees add shade as they mature; native plants provide habitat; and tending parks and open spaces helps them remain places where neighbors can spend time outdoors. Green Tacoma Day offers a chance to see that work up close and contribute to it.

Organizers will supply tools, gloves and instructions. Participants should wear clothes that can get dirty, long pants and closed-toe shoes, and bring a full water bottle. Parks Tacoma recommends layers and rain gear if the forecast calls for it.

The Green Tacoma Partnership has brought local organizations and volunteers together to care for Tacoma’s forested parks and open spaces since 2005. October 10 is an easy entry point for anyone who has admired one of those places and wanted to lend a hand. Browse the Green Tacoma Day projects and sign up here.