KCD partners with cities like Shoreline to promote ecosystem health in some of King County’s most developed areas by putting native plants in the ground where they are needed most. The Trees for Rail program was a partnership between KCD, the City of Shoreline, Sound Transit, and participating Shoreline residents to re-green the light rail corridor following the loss of trees due to construction. The program began in fall 2021 and finished in spring 2025.
Program participants worked directly with KCD Forest Stewardship staff to receive site visits to their properties and assess suitability for native plant species. Each participant received individualized planting plans for their yards, as well as two trees, four shrubs, and eight groundcovers that were planted by KCD staff.
A total of 203 households and one public park throughout Shoreline received native plants through Trees for Rail, accounting for 351 trees, 732 shrubs, and 1651 groundcovers that were planted along the light rail corridor. As these native plants grow, they will provide ecological benefits to Shoreline residents by providing shade, mitigating noise pollution, improving habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, and adding aesthetic beauty to their neighborhoods.