The Lake Forest Park Tree Board spent its meeting discussing whether to stage a small tree giveaway as part of the city’s April Green Fair and a larger, application-based giveaway in the fall.

Board members framed two different objectives: a community-engagement giveaway of low-cost seedlings to encourage conversation about trees, and a canopy-enhancement program supplying larger, more suitable stock by appointment. Kyle Gotti, a candidate and local resident, said he had consulted Shoreline’s CommuniTrees program and provided nurseries’ contact lists to the board to inform costs and sourcing. Members noted Shoreline distributes roughly 120–250 trees a year to a population of about 66,000, while Lake Forest Park’s population is about 13,000, and agreed scale and purpose should drive the approach.

The board discussed mechanics at length. Several members favored an application process so recipients commit to a planting plan; others saw value in low-cost seedlings at Green Fair to spark conversations. Sam Hall, the city’s urban forest planner, recommended considering an October event for larger trees when planting success is higher, while using the April Green Fair for outreach and tree walks. The board asked Sam and volunteer members to gather cost estimates from wholesalers and wholesalers’ lists, with one member estimating modest nursery prices for gallon-size stock in the $30–$40 range but warning overall program costs for 30–50 trees could approach several thousand dollars.

Members agreed to pursue two tracks: plan a public-facing Arbor Day/Green Fair presence (information booth and tree walk) this spring and pursue a more substantive, application‑driven giveaway in the fall that would require inventory secured months in advance. Work assignments included sharing Shoreline contacts, researching farmers-market booth costs, and clarifying whether available city tree-fund dollars could support an October giveaway. The board planned to revisit specifics and budget at the January meeting and document a final timeline to present with the annual work plan to council.