Legion Way Trees

Legion Way’s Tree Canopy

Legion Way is a beloved, canopied streetscape that was planted on Armistice Day in 1928 as a living memorial to honor local veterans.  Today’s canopy is composed of Red oaks, Pin oaks, and Sweetgums, some of which tower 90 feet above the street.  The canopy provides a shady corridor, wildlife habit, and an incredible array of environmental benefits.

Unfortunately, over 30 years ago, all 123 trees on Legion Way were topped for overhead utility lines.  Once an accepted pruning practice, topping is now known to be very damaging to a tree’s structure and long-term viability.  Legion Way trees are on the decline due to unnaturally shaped and weakened branches and trunks.  As the trees grow, so do the incidents of branch and whole tree failures. 

• Download a copy of the Legion Way presentation that was delivered to the Olympia City Council on August 16, 2010.
• Learn more about the condition of the five trees being removed this year.
• Learn move how you can get involved helping on contributing to the planting of new trees on Legion, at the Eastside Neighborhood Association website at eastside-olympia.org/legion-way-trees/. 

Stewardship Plan

To address the safety and future of the trees, the City’s Urban Forestry Program is beginning the planning and implementation of a Stewardship Plan for Legion Way with a phased, multi-faceted approach that incorporates:

• Monitoring
• Annual assessments
• Pruning
• Tree removal
• Tree placement

You Can Make a Difference

Partnerships with a variety of community organizations are being pursued as part of this effort, with a goal of providing opportunities for members of the community to learn about, participate in, and contribute to the stewardship of this special and historic streetscape.  Visit the  eastside-olympia.org/legion-way-trees/ website to learn how you can donate a tree for Legion Way.

More Information

• For more information about Legion Way,  contact Stacey Ray, City of Olympia Urban Forester, at 360.753.8046 or email at sray@ci.olympia.wa.us.  
• For more information on contributing to the planting of new trees on Legion, visit the Eastside Neighborhood Association website at www.eastside-olympia.org.