Whether you’re driving on Central Way, walking through Heritage Park or bicycling on Market Street, you can’t help but notice the tree canopy throughout the City of Kirkland. There are over 21,000 trees lining Kirkland’s streets. Many more adorn city parks and private landscapes. Kirkland’s urban forest is made up of both public and private trees that enhance the City’s identity.
Often recognized for their aesthetic qualities, trees are complex organisms that do much more to make Kirkland a livable and desirable community:
- Trees provide shade, conserving energy.
- Trees intercept and filter rain water, reducing stormwater runoff.
- Tree roots and canopies prevent soil erosion, stabilizing steep slopes and stream banks.
- Trees remove dust, pollutants, and gases from the air, protecting the ozone layer.
- Trees can decrease traffic speeds and buffer safe walking areas.
- Trees provide wildlife habitat.
The City’s Natural Resource Management Plan sets goals that Kirkland increase its tree cover to 40% (it is currently at 32%), proactively manage its public trees, ensure tree retention and preservation on private property, restrict removal of mature trees and enhance public education and awareness.
Public trees are most recognizable as street trees, often planted in grass lawns or decorative tree grates in the public right-of-way. The care and maintenance of public trees in the City is a shared responsibility between the City’s maintenance crews and private property owners. The City wants to ensure the health, safety, appropriate selection and proper planting of public trees to ensure a sustainable urban forest. A property owner who resides next to a public tree(s) must obtain approval from the City prior to removing or pruning. To learn more about tree care and preservation, including city regulations, visit the Tree and Landscaping Page.
To report dying, diseased or dangerous trees:
- In the public right-of-way, call Public Works at 425-587-3900
- In city parks, call Parks & Community Services at 425-587-3341
To submit an online complaint about illegal tree activity, click here.
Public Service Announcement: Tree Care & Removal