SEATTLE, WA — The City of Seattle is celebrating Seattle Forest Week from October 25 through November 1, inviting residents to take part in community events focused on restoring and expanding the city’s urban forest. This year’s celebration marks the launch of a new citywide initiative — “Foresting Seattle” — a collaborative effort to grow tree canopy, promote environmental equity, and create green job opportunities for local youth.
Beginning October 25, Green Seattle Day will bring volunteers together to restore 17 greenspaces citywide. Seattle Public Utilities will host the opening of a new urban tree nursery on October 29, followed by Arbor Day celebrations in the New Holly neighborhood on November 1.
🌱 About the “Foresting Seattle” Program
Led by the Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) and Seattle Parks and Recreation, with funding from a 2024 U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service grant, the Foresting Seattle program is uniting multiple city departments — including Seattle City Light, Seattle Department of Transportation, and Seattle Public Utilities — to build a healthier and more equitable city.
Seattle’s forests play a vital role in reducing urban heat, improving air and water quality, managing stormwater, and enhancing community well-being. However, access to trees is not evenly distributed across neighborhoods. Low-income communities and communities of color often face lower tree canopy coverage, leaving them more vulnerable to extreme heat and air pollution.
Foresting Seattle aims to close that gap through three focus areas:
🌿 1. Urban Forest Restoration
Over the next five years, Seattle will restore more than 37.5 acres of forest — equal to 28 football fields — by removing invasive species and planting over 4,000 new trees. Restoration efforts will focus on Beacon Hill, one of the city’s most heat-impacted neighborhoods.
The initiative is supported by the Green Seattle Partnership (GSP) and organizations such as the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS), Mountains to Sound Greenway, Seattle Housing Authority, and Seattle Public Schools.
🌳 2. Neighborhood Teams
Community-based Neighborhood Teams are being formed in the Chinatown–International District (C-ID) and Beacon Hill to promote tree planting, maintenance, and community leadership. These teams will help create long-term action plans for expanding urban canopy across both public and private properties.
🌲 3. Urban Forestry Job Training for Youth
Through Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Youth Green Corps, Foresting Seattle will provide 12-week job training opportunities for local youth ages 18–24. Participants will gain hands-on experience in forest restoration and environmental management. The first cohort begins in December 2025 and concludes in March 2026.
🌼 How to Get Involved
Seattle residents are encouraged to volunteer during Seattle Forest Week to help grow and protect the city’s tree canopy. Visit Trees for Seattle for event details and volunteer registration.
Key Events:
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Green Seattle Day: Saturday, October 25 (times and locations vary)
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Urban Tree Nursery Opening: Wednesday, October 29, 3–5:30 p.m.
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Arbor Day Celebration: Saturday, November 1, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. (New Holly Neighborhood)
Together, Seattle’s community members, city leaders, and partner organizations are working toward a greener, cooler, and more equitable city — one tree at a time.