Becoming a Tree Equity Network (TEN) Participant looks like this:
How Do We Organize?
Our movements are fueled by the community. Needs, hopes, and dreams involving increasing tree canopy shared with us by the community are an integral part of our work.
Through:
🌲 Subcommittee meetings,
🌲 One-on-one conversations, and
🌲 Our discussion forum (Slack)
…we hope to either identify new ideas and build plans around them OR support existing programming however we can.
Within the Tree Equity Network, we have two subcommittees:
🌿Policy and Advocacy Group
🌿 Youth and Community Engagement Group
Their purposes are:
🌲 To help us focus our conversations and our action items.
🌲 To diversify the ways in which we organize.
🌲 To identify and utilize the strengths of our members.
Our subcommittees normally meet separately from each other, to connect on their specific focuses. Anyone can join one or both subcommittees! If you would like to participate in TEN more often than our all-network meetings and you feel a pull to either one, reach out to celeste@seattleparksfoundation.org to join the email list for your chosen subcommittee.
What has the TEN been up to?
In the last year, we’ve gathered in a few different ways:
For recaps and photos from these events and more, check out our posts on Instagram @seattleparksfoundation under the #TreeEquityNetwork hashtag!
Click below to read our two consensus statements:
4.7.25 TEN Statement – Seattle Comprehensive Plan
5.14.25 TEN Statement – Seattle Comprehensive Plan, CB 120969
*Since the day that this was shared with Seattle City Council, the sign-on number has exceeded 160 and continues to grow. To sign your name, click here.
Key benefits of protecting and increasing tree canopy include:
🌲 Cooling the earth by reducing the impact of urban heat islands.
🌲 Cleaner air.
🌲 Reduced stress in residents.
🌲 Stormwater management.
Our network is made up of the following identities:
🌿Community members interested in or concerned about the existence, or lack thereof, of trees in your neighborhood
🌿Government agencies interested in partnering with communities
🌿Land experts
🌿Policy experts
🌿Community engagement experts
🌿Arborists
🌿and many more!
Whoever you may be, we want to invite you to join our network and partner with you to reach our common goal of increasing tree canopy in King County.
We believe we are better together. We know our impact is only as substantial as our relationships and connections with the communities that make up our region.
🌲 Most of the trees in King County are located on private land.
That’s why this work is inherently collaborative. We can’t achieve our canopy goals without working together.
🌲 Urban heat islands impact our world on every level. They increase energy consumption (higher use of air conditioners), negatively impact our health (heat-related illnesses, poor air quality, and more!) and worsen our water quality (warm water running through our drains and into our water sources impacts the habitats of aquatic species).
Limiting urban heat islands cannot happen without increased tree canopy. We are healthier and happier with more trees.
🌲Trees are a helping hand in stormwater management. Trees hold large amounts of water (some can hold up to 100 gallons!) in their leaves and bark. Oftentimes stormwater carries debris and other toxic waste into our water sources. Trees help to mitigate that by slowly releasing water into the ground and back into the atmosphere.
We save money on our drainage systems, our water sources are healthier, and our air is cooler—all by prioritizing, protecting, and caring for trees in our cities.
Visit our Events Calendar to explore upcoming volunteer opportunities with our partners!
Looking for a way to unite your team in service? Our partners are often looking for volunteers to support their work in parks and public spaces. If you are looking to bring your team together in a service project in partnership with Seattle Parks Foundation and the Tree Equity Network, we will work directly with you to build a project.
The size and scope of projects varies based on the needs and desires of your team, but these curated engagements are typically for larger groups of 50-100 per park with a minimum contribution of $5,000 in support of parks and public spaces.
Contact us at info@seattleparksfoundation.org to learn about corporate engagement opportunities throughout the region.
Donate today to support the collaborative work done by the Tree Equity Network!
You can also directly support our partners’ work:
Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association
Emerald Alliance for People, Nature and Community
Thank you for your support!
Can we keep you in the loop? There are a couple of ways you can connect with us:
1. Join our discussion forum via Slack! Email celeste@seattleparksfoundation.org for the invite link.
2. Sign up for quarterly updates below:
Please confirm you want to block this member.
You will no longer be able to:
Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.
To make a donation by mail, please send a check payable to Seattle Parks Foundation to:
PO Box 3541
Seattle, WA 98124-3541
If your gift is intended for one of our community partners, please add their name in the memo line or with an accompanying note.
A tax receipt will be mailed to you upon receipt of your contribution.
Thank you!
Have an old car taking up space in your driveway?
Donate it to Seattle Parks Foundation!
We accept most cars, trucks, trailers, boats, RVs, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, heavy equipment, and other motorized vehicles. All or part of your donation may be tax deductible.
To get started, simply complete the online donation form or call 855.500.7433 or 855.500.RIDE to speak to a representative. You can also read more at careasy.org.
