Highlighting the Free Street Tree Program with Urban Forestry

In this article

Do you have a patch of grass between your curb and sidewalk? This space is commonly called the "planting strip." Through the Free Street Trees program, if your planting strip is four feet or wider, Urban Forestry can plant low-maintenance, climate-adapted trees in it to grow tree canopy and create more shade for your neighborhood!

Why do we need the Free Street Tree program?

The Free Street Trees program plants in neighborhoods with the fewest trees to increase overall canopy and to shade the hottest areas of the city - the streets themselves. Urban Forestry contractors plant, water, mulch, and weed over 1,000 new trees within planting strips annually. This work is part of the City's investment in green infrastructure for areas with the highest need, supporting a better quality of life for all.

Aside from shade and reducing air pollution, these street trees provide so many other incredible services to Portland neighborhoods, including:

• reduced noise pollution
• reduced stormwater runoff
• slower traffic speeds
• stress reduction
• increased neighborhood walkability

What kinds of trees can neighborhoods expect Urban Forestry to plant?

Free Street Trees thoughtfully chooses trees from the Approved Street Trees Lists for plantings. This ensures the right-sized trees can thrive in the available space and adapt to our changing climate, while being low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and resilient to pests and diseases.

Trees are one of the smartest long-term investments we can make for present and future generations. Urban Forestry is committed to that investment by greening our city, tree by (free) tree.