Depave Tacoma
Transform unused or unnecessary paved areas in your community into green spaces. Let’s work together to reimagine the street landscaping to create healthier and more sustainable neighborhoods in Tacoma.
Photo Credit: The Nature Conservancy, Tacoma Tree Foundation
Why Depaving Matters.
Puget Sound Health
Paved surfaces are the number one contributor to stormwater pollution. Runoff, as it flows over paved surfaces, picks up and carries pollutants to local streams and the Puget Sound. By finding and removing unnecessary pavement (transforming them into green space) we allow runoff to soak into the soil instead of washing pollutants into the storm sewer pipes that drain into Puget Sound.
Urban Heat Islands
Heat is created by energy from all the people, transportation and paved surfaces in a City. “Urban heat islands” are created because urban infrastructure (building and paving materials) is very good at insulating, or holding in heat. This insulation makes the areas around buildings warmer and during the summer can raise nearby temperatures considerably. This excess heat coupled with higher air pollution levels associated with urban heat islands can have serious negative health impacts on humans by contributing to general discomfort, respiratory difficulties, heat cramps and exhaustion, heat stroke, and heat-related mortality.
Community Greening
Greener communities are healthier and more sustainable communities. Be part of or create projects that help to protect or restore the environment in your neighborhoods.
Planting strips are great places to insert trees or pollinator habitat. These strips can support pollinators with food and habitat as well as reduce the amount of runoff and the time and money you put in for maintenance.
Photo Credit: Google Maps. 2021
Program Assistance
For more assistance refer to our resources page.
Depave Assistance
Pierce Conservation District (PCD) works with community groups to transform paved urban areas into green space. The process begins with community nominations of spaces to be depaved. Then, the design team works with community members to develop a plan before the community pavement removal and planting events take place. PCD helps facilitate the initial watering and establishment of the green space, after which time the community group is responsible for ongoing care and maintenance.
Make A Splash Grants
City of Tacoma Environmental Services awards up to $48,000 a year in environmental grants to help educate residents and protect and restore local surface water resources. A reimbursable maximum award amount up to $4,000 is open to anyone considering a project within Tacoma city limits. Grants are designed for projects that have a strong stormwater pollution prevention message or provide a stormwater benefit. Submitted projects must meet at least one of the program goals of: education, surface water protection, or habitat restoration and tree planting.
Sustainability Small Grants
City of Tacoma Environmental Services provides a reimbursable maximum award amount of up to $5,000 to eligible projects within Tacoma city limits that help protect and restore our environment. Projects that help educate residents and/or businesses on the environment and sustainable practices are encouraged to apply. Strong grant applications will demonstrate a benefit to one or more of the three Environmental Services utilities: Surface Water, Solid Waste, and Wastewater.
Puyallup White River Watershed and Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed Small Grants
A partnership with Pierce County and the Stormwater Community of Interest (SCOI), a part of the Puyallup Watershed Initiative, with grant administration provided by the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, and the Puyallup River Watershed Council, this program provides grants up to $2,500 to non-profit organizations, schools, teachers, businesses, and individuals wishing to enhance water quality and habitats in the Puyallup-White River Watershed (WRIA 10).