Highlights:

• Green City Days, a series of planting and restoration events, takes place from Oct. 8-Nov. 19.  
• Fall is an optimal time to plant. 
• More than 1,400 volunteer events are planned across King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. 

SEATTLE, Wash. – Green City Partnerships, Forterra and partners throughout the Puget Sound host Green City Days 2022. Green City Days is a series of events across 13 cities throughout King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties that provides volunteers an opportunity to participate in a region-wide urban green space restoration and planting. The events will be held in various cities between Oct. 8-Nov. 19.  

This year during Green City Days, Green City Partnerships will host events at more than 40 different parks. The goal is to engage 1,400 volunteers and plant more than 10,000 new and healthy forest plants.  

“Fall is the optimal time of year to get outside and plant a forest. In the Pacific Northwest, our native plants and trees have the best chance of survival when planted in the fall and winter months,” said Joanna Nelson de Flores, Senior Managing Director of Green Cities at Forterra. “Green City Days are a fun way to dig-in, support your community and get to know the local parks and green spaces.”  

Green City Partnerships and its Green City Days are a true community effort. They bring together thousands of volunteers, local nonprofits, community members, city partners and Forterra, who are dedicated to the region’s forested parks, natural areas and communities. This fall marks 17 years of outstanding service. The value of this volunteer work is immeasurable – communities are working together to restore our local urban forests that clean the air, buffer noise and retain water to reduce the impacts of flooding. Forests also provide important habitats for wildlife and make outdoor recreation more accessible. 

“We appreciate every single person who makes Green City Days a success,” said Nelson de Flores. “Through these partnerships, we’re able to create healthy forested areas for everyone to enjoy.”  

2022 Green City Days Schedule of Events 

Oct. 8

• Green Tacoma Day  

Oct. 15

• Green SeaTac Day 
• Green Kirkland Day  

Oct. 22

• Green Everett Day 
• Green Burien Day  
• Green Des Moines Day 

Oct. 23

• Seattle Arbor Day 
  • Kick off to Seattle Forest Week Oct. 23-28 

Oct. 29

• Green Shoreline Day 
• Green Redmond Day 
• Green Seattle Day 

Nov. 5

• Snohomish Healthy Forest Day 
• Green Puyallup Day 
• Green Snoqualmie Day 

Nov. 19

• Green Tukwila Day  

Volunteer information
No experience is necessary – tools, gloves and training are provided. Activities include planting young trees and plants, removing weeds (blackberries and ivy), spreading mulch and more. If you can’t make it to a Green City Day event this year, there are other ways to help! Find more upcoming events on CEDAR. You can also donate or become a sponsor. Learn more here.

CONTACT

Heidi Taffera 
Forterra
Managing Director of Media Relations and Storytelling 
htaffera@forterra.org 
425-269-9981 

ABOUT FORTERRA

Forterra is an unconventional land trust that works across Washington’s communities and landscapes, from the ranches and shrub-steppe of the Yakima basin, to the estuaries, farms and forests of Washington’s coast, reaching more than 100 counties, cities, towns and rural communities. Working cooperatively with people and nature, Forterra drives land stewardship, management and planning; innovative programs and policies; farming and forestry approaches; community ownership opportunities; and development solutions. Visit forterra.org.

ABOUT GREEN CITY PARTNERSHIPS

In 2004, natural areas around Seattle were infested with invasive plants, which prevented a new generation of trees from growing. Forterra and the City of Seattle recognized an opportunity to restore and maintain Seattle’s 2,500 acres of forested parkland with the help of the community. From there, a 20-year strategic plan was developed and the first Green City Partnership began. Today, there are 13 cities involved. Green City Partnerships help urban communities in the Puget Sound region effectively enhance and care for their natural open spaces and tree canopy.