TLC staff, the City of Spokane, and volunteers planted twenty-five new street trees in the West Central neighborhood on Friday, April 23rd as part of SpoCanopy's goals for increased tree canopy cover. The trees were planted with city arborist assistance, at no charge to residents. Thank you to Avista and Townshend Winery for sponsoring this project!

To prepare for this planting, our staff and volunteers conducted extensive outreach throughout the neighborhoods and identified places where trees were needed, and where residents are willing to care for them.

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. 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.

Want to request 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 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).

What are the benefits of urban trees?
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.