Mayor Todd Gloria, City Council President Joe LaCava, City staff and community volunteers came together today to plant 14 trees in celebration of Kate Sessions Day, an annual event held around the birthday of one of San Diego's most influential horticulturists and landscape architects.

These new trees were added today to the area surrounding the Pacific Beach/Taylor Library in locations that have been tree-vacant for years. As these trees grow, they will provide lasting benefits to the community, including helping capture stormwater runoff and offering shade to pedestrians and library visitors during warm summer months.

“Kate Sessions gave San Diego a greener future because she had the foresight to plant for generations she would never meet,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “My administration is carrying that legacy forward. We've planted more than 10,500 trees since 2022 as we work toward our goal of 100,000 new trees by 2035, prioritizing communities that need shade the most. By expanding our urban forest, we're helping cool neighborhoods, clean our air and build a healthier, more resilient San Diego.”

The tree planting event honors Kate Sessions, known as the "Mother of Balboa Park," whose vision and dedication helped shape San Diego's urban forest. Sessions introduced hundreds of plant and tree species to the region, including the iconic Jacaranda tree, leaving a lasting impact on the city's landscape that continues to benefit residents today.

“Our City is the heart of the most biodiverse region in the country. Thanks to the work of Kate Sessions, and the environmental leaders that built on her legacy, we benefit from the parks and natural preserves that enrich our quality of life,” said Council President Joe LaCava. “Today’s tree plantings, in honor of Kate Sessions, will benefit the community today and tomorrow.”

The 14 trees planted during today's event will contribute to the City's ongoing efforts to expand San Diego's urban canopy. The selected tree species include Jacaranda, Pink Trumpet, Southern Magnolia, New Zealand Christmas Tree and Bottle Tree. Urban trees help cool neighborhoods, improve air quality and enhance the quality of life for residents.

This year's tree planting event was made possible through the Tree Canopy Fund, a program established in 2022 that allows the City to plant trees in neighborhoods and other public spaces when trees cannot be planted as part of new development projects. The fund supports the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) goal of planting 100,000 new trees by 2035. Since CAP 2.0 was adopted in August 2022, the City’s Urban Forestry Program has planted 10,588 new trees, marking important progress toward this goal.

New tree planting locations are identified through a blend of Census tract data and feedback from local communities. City arborists select appropriate species from an approved tree list, and the Transportation Department provides watering and maintenance during the trees’ first three years. Learn more about the City’s Urban Forestry Program and tree-planting efforts at sandiego.gov/trees.