Green & Beautiful
New Downtown Tree Grates
The new Downtown tree grates have arrived, donning the custom design for Downtown Spokane! The first grate was installed at the Fernwell Building, on the corner of Stevens and Riverside, featuring the landmark Monroe Street Bridge and a sunburst -- both architectural elements originally designed by renowned local architect Kirtland Cutter. 
These new custom tree grates are not only an aesthetic improvement surrounding our Downtown trees, but they also provide significantly more access to run-off water and air circulation than the concrete grates surrounding many Downtown trees currently, most remaining from Expo '74. The new grates are manufactured locally by Hern Iron Works in Coeur d'Alene and can be customized with the building name and construction date at a unit cost, resulting in a more cost-effective grate than most off-the-shelf models. For those interested in ordering a custom tree grate for your Downtown trees, or if you're looking for more information on Downtown street trees and grants, contact Andrew Rolwes of the DSP at 509.456.0580 or arolwes@downtownspokane.net.
To download a quick one sheet of custom tree grate information, click here.
Whose Job Is It?
Not sure who to contact when you've got a broken street lamp, or graffiti on your builiding? We're here to help!
Download a copy of our Whose Job Is It? flier here!
If you have questions regarding streetscape maintenance and management that aren't answered by our Whose Job Is It? diagram, call us at 509.456.0580.
Looking for the appropriate Inland Northwest plants to landscape with? Click here to download info provided by WSU Master Gardeners. Or to visit the WSU Master Gardener web site, click here.
View a Workshop on Downtown Street Trees and the Street Tree Grant Program!
The Downtown Spokane Partnership held a Street Tree workshop to help educate Downtowners on care and maintenance of 
Downtown's street trees and the street tree grant program, which will reimburse property owners who install street trees in their right-of-way.
Workshop speakers addressed questions, including :
- How do I install a tree irrigation system?
- How do I ensure the health of my street trees?
- How often should my street tree be watered, pruned and fertilized?
- Who can prune my trees?
- How does the tree grant program work and am I eligible?
- What can I do if the tree in my right-of-way is dead?
- What kinds of trees can I plant?
- What do I do with the lighting and electrical outlet in my tree well?
- Can I replace a concrete tree grate with a metal tree grate or no grate at all?
Those who have applied or are considering applying for the street tree grant are encouraged to view the workshop presentation as well as Downtown property owners and anyone interested in Downtown street trees.
Download the June 23 Street Tree Grant Workshop presentation
For more information call Andrew at 509.456.0580 x 109 or email arolwes@downtownspokane.net.
Did you know*...
- Large canopy street trees help reduce building cooling costs and extend the life of asphalt and pavement.
- Street trees cool and shade Downtown's sidewalks, encouraging shoppers to stay longer.
- Large street trees create a strong "sense-of-place," soften the urban landscape, and are a competitive advantage for Downtown.
- Street trees positively influence the distance people are willing to travel to shop in Downtown.
*Wolf, K. “The Environmental Psychology of Shopping” ICSC Research Review, Vol. 14, No. 3, 2007 pp39-43
New Downtown Street Tree Replacement Grant Program Launched
The City of Spokane, along with the Spokane County Conservation District and the Downtown Spokane 
Partnership, is launching a grant program to plant new street trees in downtown Spokane.
The program is intended to replace or add up to 50 street trees a year in an area bounded by Spokane Falls Boulevard to the north, Second Avenue to the south, just past Monroe Street to the west, and just past Washington Street to the east. (image courtesy of MetroSpokane)
There are about 500 locations in the downtown core that are suitable for street trees, but many of these sites are empty or have trees that are in poor health.The grant program is a way to get new trees into these locations.
Property owners can apply for the $500 grants for tree sites adjacent to their properties.The property owner must agree to remove any existing tree and installing a privately connected irrigation system for the site.They also commit to watering and caring for the tree for 25 years.
The City will backfill the tree pit with appropriate planting mix, and the Spokane County Conservation District will plant a new tree in each location. Approved tree species for the program include Green Ash, White Ash, Blue Ash, Little Leaf Linden, and American Linden.
Click here for an application!
More Street Tree Research*:
- For well streetscaped trees in a business district, participants in multiple surveys indicated they are willing to:
- Travel further
- Pay more for parking
- Stay longer
- Research indicates people prefer natural views to man-made views, and participants had strong preferences for tree-lined streets.
- Large, well-tended trees receive highest preference ratings
- Consumers in the survey, claimed they were willing to pay 9% more in small cities and 12% more in large cities for equivalent goods and services in business districts with an urban forest.
|
Pricing Comparisons for Products | ||||
|
Large Cities |
Small Cities | |||
|
Products Category |
No Trees |
With Trees |
No Trees |
With Trees |
|
Convenience |
$8.98 |
$13.78 |
$5.93 |
$7.48 |
|
Shopping |
$33.52 |
$47.36 |
$69.42 |
$92.22 |
|
Specialty |
$51.88 |
$73.24 |
$63.96 |
$74.32 |
*Information from the review: The Environmental Psycology of Shopping: Assessing the Value of Trees (Wolf, 'The Environmental Psychology of Shopping', ICSC Research Review Vol 14, No. 3 2007)
If you have questions about Downtown street trees, please contact Andrew Rolwes at 509-456-0580 ext. 109 or arolwes@downtownspokane.net.
Latest News
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This week:
Cooking classes, St. Patrick's Day Parade & more!
Click here for a calendar of downtown events
The Downtown Library is now open Mondays, 10am-6pm
Downtown Snow Removal
Click here for
Info & Resources
Downtown Security Ambassadors are available for assistance
509.353.9111
Proud winners of a 2009 AGORA Award!
FAST FORWARD Spokane: Downtown Plan Update
View the adopted Plan Update here!
First Friday
Unlike any other Friday of the month
Site Information
Downtown Spokane Partnership
211 N. Wall St., Suite 300
Spokane, WA 99201
509.456.0580
© Copyright 2010 by Downtown Spokane Partnership
Database updated 3/11/2010
Designed by Phil Sandifur
