Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Urban Forest topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City outlines Thompson Avenue urban-forest project to replace failing street trees
Summary
Parks staff described an urban forest improvements program and a 2026 Thompson Avenue project to replace failing street trees, install engineered soils and drainage, repair sidewalks, and plant 60'80 trees on prioritized blocks.
Snowqualami public works staff presented the city's urban forest improvements program on June 8 and described a priority project for 2026: Thompson Avenue.
Philip Bennett, deputy director of parks and public works, summarized the program's roots in the comprehensive and strategic plans and explained the problem: original plantings placed trees in shallow topsoil over glacial till that leads to instability, infrastructure conflicts and tree failure. He said staff updated prioritization criteria based on site conditions, infrastructure damage, canopy gaps and resident feedback.
The 2026 Thompson Avenue project is out to bid and is the highest-ranked priority: the scope described includes about 1,500 linear feet of planter-strip improvements, engineered soil installations and under-drainage, sidewalk repair, and planting roughly 60 to 80 trees to restore canopy and address aphid infestations residents flagged. Bennett said the program will proceed in clustered projects (approximately 1,500 ft per mobilization) to maximize contractor efficiency.
Why it matters: Urban tree canopy provides storm-water benefits, shade and property-value enhancements; failing trees create safety hazards, obstruct infrastructure and degrade those benefits.
What's next: Staff will proceed with the Thompson Avenue bid process and continue updating prioritization and design lessons learned from previous projects; future streets will be scheduled as funding allows.
