(April 10, 2025)The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), and the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) have successfully completed the first phase of the Trees in the Curb Zone pilot project, turning underused parking spaces into green spaces.
The project added 15 new trees in January along SE Duke Street, from SE 82nd Avenue to SE 94th Avenue in the Lents neighborhood, an area noted for its lack of street trees and limited green space. This month, the project team will receive the “Innovative Transportation Solutions" Award from the Portland Chapter of WTS, an international organization dedicated to shaping the future of transportation for the public good through the global advancement of women.
“This pilot project showcases how creative, out-of-the-box solutions can help us adapt our urban spaces to improve the quality of life for Portlanders and our environment,” said Transportation Director Millicent Williams. “These trees will not only provide much-needed shade and beautification to the neighborhood but also help address the impacts of climate change.”
The Trees in the Curb Zone initiative was driven by PBOT with support from Environmental Services’ Percent for Green grant program. Portland Parks & Recreation’s Urban Forestry Division has been an active partner throughout this project, planting and maintaining the new street trees as part of a special agreement for this pilot project, ensuring they thrive in the coming years. This includes watering and ongoing care and maintenance.
The tree planting is part of an ongoing effort to increase Portland’s urban tree canopy in parts of the city with less canopy than other areas. Urban trees play a crucial role in climate resilience by mitigating heat, managing stormwater and reducing flooding, and improving air quality.
“Having trees and having more shade is always, a good thing, especially with climate change and it becoming hotter and hotter. It gets pretty hot in this neighborhood,” said Brittany Soleil, a resident on SE Duke Street. “I feel like there's something really sweet about neighborhoods that have trees lining the street that eventually get bigger than the houses or something really cozy about that. So I'm looking forward to seeing that come to fruition as well."
“A thriving urban forest is essential to the health and well-being of our communities”, says Portland Parks & Recreation Director Adena Long. “PP&R and our Urban Forestry team are committed to growing and caring for our tree canopy so every Portlander benefits from the cleaner air, lower temperatures, and habitat trees provide. We are proud to have partnered on this project with our colleagues in PBOT and BES and are eager to see this critical work continue.”
"By transforming underused spaces into more vibrant tree-lined streets, this project delivers immediate environmental benefits to a neighborhood facing unique climate change challenges," said Ting Lu, Interim Director of Environmental Services. "The Percent for Green grant program, which helped fund this project, demonstrates our dedication to leverage greener, more sustainable solutions to stormwater management."
The newly planted trees are expected to continue to grow and flourish, contributing to a healthier, more sustainable urban environment. This project also marks an important step in the City’s ongoing efforts to increase green infrastructure across Portland’s neighborhoods.
“This project reflects the kind of creative collaboration we’re striving for across the Public Works Service Area,” said Deputy City Administrator for Public Works Priya Dhanapal. “By aligning the strengths of PBOT and BES, we’re able to deliver smarter, more sustainable infrastructure that supports both climate resilience and community livability—right where people live, move, and gather.”
In addition to winning local recognition, the Trees in the Curb Zone pilot project is gaining national attention, with cities across the U.S. expressing interest in implementing this innovative approach. City of Portland employees have met and shared insights with other cities like Chattanooga, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, Oakland, Sacramento, and San Francisco, reinforcing Portland’s role as a leader in sustainable urban development.
Project Phase Two Focuses on “Greening the Greenways”
Phase two of Trees in the Curb Zone is in design now, with more planting locations coming to the Lents neighborhood. More information on phase two will be posted to the project website as it becomes available.
Visit the project website for updates: Trees in the Curb Zone Pilot Project | Portland.gov
About Environmental Services
Environmental Services - the City of Portland’s sewer and stormwater utility - protects public health and the environment by collecting and recovering resources from the city’s wastewater, managing stormwater, and restoring and protecting Portland’s rivers, streams, and watersheds.
The Percent for Green grant program, managed by Environmental Services, funds large-scale green infrastructure projects that manage stormwater, enhance watershed health, and provide community benefits.
About Portland Parks & Recreation’s Urban Forestry Division
The mission of PP&R’s Urban Forestrydivision is to manage and care for Portland's urban forest infrastructure. Our urban forest consists of more than 250,000 street trees, 1.2 million park trees, and about 2.9 million private property trees valued at over $6 billion. Some of the services that PP&R’s Urban Forestry staff provide include creating and implementing the City's Urban Forest Plan; fostering community awareness and stewardship of trees; developing tree policies and programs; monitoring and assessing the urban forest; issuing permits for planting, pruning, and removal of public and some private trees. PP&R’s Urban Forestry staff are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to respond to tree emergencies on City property.
About PBOT
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. Learn more at www.portland.gov/transportation