Grants Pass has long worn its Tree City USA designation with pride, but a new project aims to address a quieter reality beneath that recognition: not every neighborhood enjoys the same cooling shade or leafy streets. This spring, a partnership between the City of Grants Pass and nonprofit OUR Community Forestry is working to change that, with plans to plant 150 large, climate-resilient shade trees in areas where canopy coverage has historically been sparse.
The effort is backed by a Community Green Infrastructure grant from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, reflecting a broader push across the state to treat trees not just as decoration, but as essential infrastructure. While Grants Pass has maintained its Tree City USA status for nearly four decades and was named Oregon Tree City of the Year in 2020, disparities remain. Lower-income neighborhoods, according to data from American Forests, tend to have significantly less tree coverage and experience noticeably higher temperatures as a result.
That gap is exactly what this project is designed to close. Rather than focusing solely on planting, the initiative takes a longer view, covering everything from identifying planting sites and working with residents to installing irrigation systems and ensuring the trees receive care in the years that follow. The goal is not just to add greenery, but to establish trees that will survive, grow, and deliver lasting benefits.
Project Manager Abby Runte emphasized the practical impact these trees can have on daily life, noting that “canopy-shaded homes and sidewalks can be over 20 degrees cooler than those without tree coverage.” In a region where summer heat has become more intense in recent years, that kind of difference can shape everything from energy bills to public health.
The benefits extend beyond temperature. Trees are increasingly recognized for their role in improving air quality and reducing health risks. Research from The Nature Conservancy suggests a single mature tree can filter a significant portion of fine particle pollution within its immediate area, contributing to lower rates of respiratory and cardiovascular issues over time.
The project also carries a workforce development component, bringing in six local interns through Project Youth+’s Career Build program. Working alongside certified arborists from OUR Community Forestry, these interns will gain hands-on experience in urban forestry, from planting techniques to long-term maintenance. It’s an investment not only in the city’s landscape, but in the next generation of skilled workers.
Keeping the project rooted in the local economy is another priority. The trees themselves will be sourced from Plant Oregon, a Rogue Valley nursery that has been growing native and climate-adapted species for decades. By relying on locally cultivated stock, organizers hope to improve tree survival rates while supporting regional agriculture.
Public planting events are scheduled for the fall of 2026, with opportunities for residents to get involved expected to roll out in the coming months. Organizers say community participation will be key, both in helping plant the trees and in fostering a sense of shared ownership over the spaces they will transform.
For a city already known for its trees, the project represents a shift in focus—from recognition to redistribution. By directing resources toward neighborhoods that have gone without, Grants Pass is taking a step toward a more balanced urban landscape, where the benefits of shade, cleaner air, and cooler streets are not tied to a ZIP code, but shared across the community.