Friends of Trees told the Parks Advisory Committee on Oct. 15 that it will return to Troutdale for a street-tree planting event on Feb. 14 and is already signing up homeowners to receive free or subsidized trees.

"With Friends of Trees, we have two main planting programs," said Winnie, neighborhood outreach specialist for Friends of Trees, describing a neighborhood‑trees program that plants larger stock in residential planting strips and a green‑space program focused on natives, shrubs and wetland plantings.

Why it matters: the nonprofit partners with municipal funds to increase canopy in planting‑strip locations, focusing on species suited to space constraints so new trees do not damage sidewalks.

Program details and sign-ups
Winnie said Friends of Trees planted 40 trees in Troutdale last season with 41 volunteers and that the group's goal for the upcoming season is 30 street trees funded through the city program. As of the Oct. 15 meeting, 38 properties had signed up and 16 trees were already ordered. Friends of Trees also noted a separate federal grant that provides free yard trees in prioritized neighborhoods.

"These trees are about 1.5 inch caliber and 6 to 10 feet tall," Winnie said, describing the large‑stock trees the program typically installs and the post‑planting checks volunteers perform to confirm establishment.

The group said it uses an inspection before assigning an approved tree list for a property, accounting for planting-strip width, underground utilities and overhead wires. Winnie said crews perform utility locates before digging and will not plant where utilities make planting unsafe.

Coordination with city staff
City parks staff and committee members discussed how the Friends of Trees program complements the city's street-tree fund and how choice of species and siting can reduce future sidewalk damage. Committee members urged outreach to underrepresented groups; the consultants and Friends of Trees both noted renters were underrepresented in their survey responses.

Ending
Friends of Trees advised residents to sign up on the nonprofit's website; the group said crews and volunteers will review approved locations and bring lists of suitable species tailored to each planting strip. The committee welcomed the partnership and encouraged continued coordination for the February plantings.