By Kayla Kunimoto

On October 11, 2025, Tacoma celebrated its annual Green Tacoma Day. Volunteers and partnering organizations gathered for an intentional day of community action to support local urban green spaces. Over the course of three hours, from 9am to 12noon, Tacoma took a large leap towards becoming a greener city.

Volunteers at one of the Green Tacoma Day 2025 sites: q^wiq^welut Salt Marsh, next to the Port of Tacoma.

Our Impact.

This year, the Green Tacoma Partnership had 223 volunteers gather across 13 different sites to show their support. Volunteers took part in a range of activities, such as tree giveaways, tree and shrub plantings, litter pick-up, and habitat restoration. We’ll let the numbers speak for themselves:

• 171 trees and 533 understory plants installed
• 197 trees given away
• 6,050 sq ft of weeds removed
• 6,857 sq ft mulched
• 3,291 gallons of trash, debris, and recycling removed

In total The Green Tacoma Partnership tallied 505 volunteer work hours. That’s the equivalent of a person working full time for over three months!

Why does Green Tacoma Day exist?

The Green Tacoma Partnership was formed in 2005 as a joint effort between different government organizations, schools, non-profits, businesses, and community to promote healthy urban natural areas for all. Caring for green spaces is an investment for both the local community and the wildlife that depends on them. Every tree planted and weed pulled helps to strengthen the city’s resiliency in the face of climate challenges to create healthier urban forests. These spaces filter stormwater, reduce flooding, improve air quality, sequester carbon, create habitat for wildlife, and regulate temperature during hot weather. The benefits extend to an improved quality of life as well, by providing recreational opportunities and promoting better mental health and wellbeing. Greener neighborhoods provide a feeling of safety and comfort to communities.

Green Tacoma Day is an opportunity for people to get involved in protecting and caring for their urban forests. Although we reside in the Evergreen State, Tacoma has the lowest tree canopy percentage compared to all other communities in the Puget Sound Region. Currently, the city’s tree canopy percentage sits at 21%, with a goal to reach 30% by 2030.

Student volunteers from UWT are ready to collect litter from around campus and downtown.

While improving any green space is vital, it’s important to acknowledge that there are areas that should be prioritized due to fewer trees, less shade, and more exposure to stormwater runoff and air pollution. Green Tacoma Day seeks to focus on areas that need it most. Sites like q^wiq^welut “Little Marsh” near the Port of Tacoma, is in a location that has been heavily industrialized and much of the original habitat has been lost. Alongside the port, Central and South Tacoma also face lower canopy coverage compared to other areas. Programs such as Green Blocks seek to support specific neighborhoods that would especially benefit from tree plantings.

Green Blocks volunteer tree planting event, hosted by Tacoma Tree Foundation and City of Tacoma Urban Forestry.

What Next?

Green Tacoma Day 2025 may be over, but there are many opportunities to get involved and continue to improve Tacoma’s natural spaces. The Tacoma Habitat Stewardship Program is designed to allow the public to easily get involved in the restoration of urban natural areas in Tacoma. Currently, there are four sites that have monthly volunteer work parties to restore habitat and educate the community on best management practices. This is a great way to build friendships, hang out, learn, or just let loose with hands-on work! All ages are welcome, no skills are necessary, and all tools are provided. You can register for a work party on Pierce Conservation District’s Calendar of Events.

The Tacoma Habitat Stewardship Program has sites that are also available to host private events, workshops, or corporate outings. If you have any questions about partnering with us, please contact tacomahabitatstewardship@piercecd.org. You can also follow the Green Tacoma Partnership on Instagram and Facebook, to get updates on events that our fellow partners will be hosting.

See you all next year at Green Tacoma Day 2026!

Volunteers at S 72^nd St and S D St, “Tacoma’s Skinniest Park”, doing upkeep and plantings.

Special thanks to the partners that comprise the Green Tacoma Partnership, who made this event possible: City of Tacoma (Open Space, Urban Forestry, and Tidy Up), Pierce Conservation District, Parks Tacoma, Tacoma Tree Foundation, Washington State University, University of Washington Tacoma, Clover Park Technical College, Tahoma Bird Alliance, South End Neighborhood Council, Pierce County Parks, and Washington Conservation Corps.