Seattle Parks and Recreation is proud to mark the 20th anniversary of the Green Seattle Partnership, a visionary collaboration that has brought together the City of Seattle, community groups, non-profits, businesses, schools, and thousands of passionate volunteers. Over the past two decades, this collective effort has transformed Seattle’s forested parklands, demonstrating the profound impact of community-driven ecological restoration.
Since its inception, the Green Seattle Partnership has set the standard for restoring and enhancing urban forests. By strengthening community connections, improving the health of the Puget Sound, and building resilience to climate change, the partnership’s achievements highlight what is possible when we work together for a greener, healthier city.
“Seattle shines because of the shared commitment of our residents, staff, and volunteers to protecting our city’s incredible natural environment,” said AP Diaz, Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent.
A Legacy of Accomplishment
Throughout our 20-year journey, we’ve strived to make ecological restoration accessible to all Seattle residents, connecting people with the forests, parklands, and plants that make our city unique. These accomplishments have only been possible through the dedication of our partners, volunteers, restoration professionals, and supporters.
Together, we are:
- Caring for 2,032 acres in active restoration, including forests, shorelines, meadows, wetlands and creeks. This has included planting 1,507,386 total native plants, including 355,238 trees and freeing 62,249 trees from climbing vines.
- Supporting 171 active Forest Stewards leading restoration efforts in their local parks, with 494 Forest Stewards trained since 2005 and 71 Forest Stewards accomplishing 10+ years of service.
- Bringing 1,438,943 total volunteer hours to care for these spaces since 2005. In 2024 alone, we hosted 1,500 community stewardship events, engaged 78 schools in land care work, and led green job pathways programming with over 100 youth.
Strategic Plan and The Next Chapter
As we celebrate two decades of progress, we remain committed to the vision that launched the Green Seattle Partnership. Guided first by our foundational 2005 Strategic Plan and an updated plan in 2017, we’ve evolved to meet new challenges and opportunities. Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that the Green Seattle Partnership 3-Year Action Plan (January 2026—December 2028) will be published soon. This new plan will build on our experience and collective wisdom, setting a course for the next phase of restoration and community engagement in Seattle’s urban forests. Our guiding mission remains: to restore and care for forested parklands, while fostering an ever-growing community of environmental stewards.
Because of our leadership in community-centered urban forest restoration, Seattle was honored as the only U.S. city to be designated a “Role Model City” by the United Nations Generation Restoration initiative. This global recognition celebrates not only the tremendous accomplishments of our local partnerships, but also the far-reaching impact of our work, which has inspired other major cities, like Paris, to launch their own restoration efforts modeled after the Green Seattle Partnership. Our collective action continues to set a standard for urban ecosystem restoration worldwide.
Central to our success is Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Thriving Environment initiative. This initiative advances climate mitigation and adaptation, fosters environmental stewardship citywide, and champions equitable access to healthy public spaces for all. By caring for our forests, expanding green infrastructure, and nurturing community programming, we are building a more resilient, sustainable future for everyone in Seattle. The work of the Green Seattle Partnership is a shining example of what’s possible when dedicated staff, passionate volunteers, and engaged residents unite around a shared commitment to a thriving environment.
