Talkin' Trees on the Hilltop

Hilltop Artist integrates trees into their art to foster conversations

Tacoma’s trees provide many benefits: beauty, shade, oxygen, carbon sequestration, stormwater absorption, and habitat to name a few. Sadly, Tacoma has the lowest urban tree canopy of any Western Washington city that’s been measured. Further, the Hilltop has less trees than other parts of the city, a result of racist land use practices (redlining, disinvestment, etc). The lighter the green on the map, the less tree canopy. Parts of Tacoma with less trees also experience hotter temperatures. On the day this was measured, areas in red are 8 degrees hotter than areas in blue. This is the result of the urban heat island effect, a phenomena caused by, among other things, reduced tree canopy.

There is hope! Across M.L.K. Jr. way from People’s Park, a Hilltop artist has gone to a street tree in the sidewalk to celebrate 1 tree and the shade and cooling it provides.

This tree, a willow oak (Quercus phellos), named Willow, was planted around 2014 as part of the Hilltop Diversitree program, which promised to “bring ambiance and environmental enhancements” to the Hilltop Business District. Urban trees, on average, live about 7 years. Trees that have occupied the planting space of Willow in the past are no different, having been removed between 2008 and 2011, and between 2011 and 2014. 

The goal of the art piece with Willow is that she can can foster conversations about the importance of urban tree canopy and the many benefits they provide. This is a wish for a day when green infrastructure is prioritized in Tacoma. If you would like to advocate for trees and the urban forest, you can contact:

• City of Tacoma Urban Forestry Program | trees@cityoftacoma.org | (253) 502-2138

• Council Member Keith Blocker, Position 3 | keith.blocker@cityoftacoma.org | (253) 591-5100

• Mayor Victoria Woodards | vwoodards@cityoftacoma.org

• City Administrator Elizabeth Pauli | citymanager@cityoftacoma.org | epauli@cityoftacoma.org

• Deputy Mayor Kristina Walker, At-large Position 8 | kristina.walker@cityoftacoma.org | (253) 591-5100

If you would like to become involved with trees, or receive some free trees, check out upcoming opportunities with Tacoma Urban Forestry and the Tacoma Tree Foundation.

You are welcome to also visit the art piece with Willow and share photos and your feelings about her using #hilltoptreestory

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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