There are plenty of things that make life in this gritty city of ours better and more bearable. Locally owned and operated businesses add character and flavor, and local art makes things pleasant to the eye. Hell, in a way even the bad rap that’s hung on Tacoma like cheap tinsel since the days of Hilltop’s prime makes life better here — if for no other reason than it helps keep Tacoma’s awesomeness our little secret.



And our little secret is slowly but surely getting greener.



Of course, the word “green” has many applications these days — what, with eco-friendliness being all the rage — but both literally and figuratively Tacoma is moving in the right direction.



Believe it or not, trees make city life better. The fact has been proven — by scientists and researchers, no less. Among other things, trees improve air quality, help with surface water runoff issues and help protect our sidewalks and roadways. Studies also show that there is less crime in areas with more trees. These are just some of the reasons why Tacoma’s Green Ribbon Task force has made planting more of them a priority.



For this reason, and many others, Tacoma has Ramie Pierce — the city’s full time “urban forester.”



(How fucking cool is that? Tacoma has an urban forester on the payroll! Soon the City Council will all be riding bikes with one pant leg rolled up and listening to Menomena!)

While as Tacoma’s urban forester Pierce has many responsibilities related to protecting Tacoma’s urban forest (which by definition includes all trees in planting strips, neighborhood parks and public open spaces), one of her specific duties is managing the city’s TreeStreet NW program — which has worked to substantially up the number of trees planted in all corners of Tacoma. Since 2007, TreeStreet NW has helped to plant 803 trees, and in October of ’08 alone they were responsible for the planting of 230 — the most TreeStreet NW has ever planted in a single month.



Here’s how it works: From September through April, a property owner in Tacoma can get together with at least two other property owners in their neighborhood, and as long as they agree to plant a minimum number of trees, TreeStreet NW will provide them — paid for through a small gas tax we’re all footing the bill for — to the tune of $100,000 a year. Information on Tacoma’s TreeStreet NW program can be found at here.



“An urban forest is not that different from a regular forest, except it’s urban,” explains Pierce. “Our goal is to build community and beautify Tacoma.”



While the logic behind TreeStreet NW is hard to argue with, it’s easy to wonder, as the City Council has — considering income disparity, the vastly different makeup of North vs. South Tacoma and the research suggesting that areas with more trees have less crime — whether the neighborhoods that really need the trees are getting them? Is it only the upper crust North End taking advantage of TreeStreet NW?



Not at all. Pierce reports that, so far, the highest concentrations of trees have been planted in Tacoma’s central neighborhoods.



“This is only my opinion, but the feeling I get driving around Tacoma is that there are areas with higher crime rates that have fewer trees,” says Pierce. “The need is there.”

Yes, it certainly is. Luckily, Tacoma has an Urban Forester up to the challenge.