Celebrate Green Shoreline Days

Volunteers at Twin Ponds Park
Photo by Jim Avery

The Green Shoreline Partnership, a collaboration founded by Forterra and the City of Shoreline, invites local neighbors to celebrate Green Shoreline Days, a week of virtual learning and celebration of our urban forests.

 

The festivities kick off November 16 and go through November 21. Learn more and see what other cities are doing by visiting the Green City Days website.

The Partnership has extended Green Shoreline Days to a weeklong adventure of discovering local forests and learning what it takes to keep urban forests healthy. Shoreline residents can complete activities from the comfort of their homes. Those who complete at least one activity each day can win a small care package from the Green Shoreline Partnership.

“The Green Shoreline Partnership is a vital effort to improve the health of Shoreline’s urban forest, and is a great benefit to our region’s environment and communities. Volunteers and involved citizens are the backbone of this environmental improvement effort, and is one of our community’s greatest assets,” notes City of Shoreline Park Maintenance Superintendent, Kirk Peterson.

Due to COVID-19, all Green City Days events will move to virtual platforms or socially distanced, on-your-own activities. Residents who would like to volunteer should visit the Green City Days website to learn more.

Managing urban forests during a pandemic

Healthy urban forests, parks and green spaces offer critical mental, physical and environmental health benefits like clean air and improved water quality. These spaces need management to remain healthy and strong.

“We knew we had to adjust when the pandemic hit,” said Michelle Connor, Forterra president and CEO. 

“Even a month away from a park and you’ll see invasive plants returning, putting our trees at risk. Our work couldn’t wait. We were able to establish this work as an essential service, allowing key staff to continue needed management throughout the region.”

Forterra announced that after a six-month hold on volunteer events, Green City volunteer events will return this fall. Volunteers will need to follow a series of COVID-19 safety protocols, including wearing a mask, maintaining distance and not sharing tools.

Volunteer at Hamlin Park
Photo by Jim Avery

Green City Partnerships

Green City Partnerships began in 2004 when the City of Seattle and Forterra joined in a commitment to restore and maintain the city’s 2,500 acres of forested parkland over the next 20 years. 

The program harnesses the power of communities to create a culture of volunteerism and stewardship to protect local forested parks and maintain a healthy tree canopy. Each partnership brings together local nonprofits, community groups, city agencies, neighborhood leaders, and local businesses to support healthy forested parks. 

The Green City Partnerships combined log over 115,000 volunteer hours and more than 1,000 stewardship events each year. In its success, the program has expanded across the region to 14 cities and one county.

ABOUT FORTERRA

Forterra is a Washington-based nonprofit that enhances, supports, and stewards the region’s most precious resources — its communities and its ecosystems. Forterra conserves and stewards land, develops innovative policies, and supports sustainable rural and urban development. In its 30-year history, Forterra has helped conserve more than 250,000 acres. Its work stretches from the farmlands and river canyons of Yakima to the estuaries and forests of Washington’s coastline, reaching more than 100 counties, cities, and towns. Visit www.forterra.org.