The City of Bellevue is recruiting volunteers to plant native trees at Lewis Creek Park on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 to 11 a.m.

The Arbor Day event will put Sitka spruce, western red cedar and Douglas fir in the ground to restore forest health at the park, located at 5808 Lakemont Blvd. SE, according to a city announcement. Volunteers will also pull invasive species from the surrounding area.

The planting ties into a broader goal. The city's Sustainable Bellevue Plan calls for reaching 40% tree canopy coverage by 2050. The City Council adopted the 2026–2030 version of that plan on Nov. 18, 2025. It is guided by a carbon-neutral-by-2050 target set in the city's Comprehensive Plan.

A 2023 Urban Tree Canopy Assessment, referenced on the city's Environmental Stewardship page, measured Bellevue's canopy baseline, though the full results were not available for this report.

Curtis Kukal, a park ranger with the Bellevue Parks and Community Services Department and the event's organizer, said the morning is a chance for neighbors to pitch in on something lasting.

"Even a couple hours of volunteer time can have lasting impact," Kukal said in the city's announcement.

Bellevue holds its Arbor Day celebration in the fall rather than the spring. The city said autumn rain helps newly planted trees establish roots, making October a better window for planting in the Pacific Northwest.

The event also supports Bellevue's standing as a Tree City USA, a national designation recognizing commitments to urban forestry. The city said in its announcement that Bellevue's trees oxygenate the air, provide food and habitat for small animals and microorganisms, reduce stormwater runoff and cool neighborhoods.

Community members can register to participate through the city. The city did not list a registration fee in its announcement.

Residents who cannot make it on Oct. 17 can find additional volunteer opportunities through the city's Environmental Stewardship page.