Monday, January 20th, 2025

Tacoma Silent Trees: Breaking silence near People’s Park

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In 2012, Civil Rights artist Paul Rucker installed his “Human Rights Legacy” benches at People’s Park in Tacoma’s Hilltop Neighborhood, around the corner from this London plane tree.

Tacoma Silent Trees: Breaking silence near People’s Park

“I heard you mention ‘London plane’ on your device near the Horse Chestnut tree,” said the London plane tree from across the street near the Mi Centro non-profit on Hilltop Tacoma. “The photo you snapped is a large, deciduous, synoecious tree. I’m over here just being a hybrid of Platanus orientalis and Platanus occidentalis — plain and simple,” added the tree, waving its branches in the air like it was signaling a plane.

The first words out of the London plane’s tree trunk pointed to our screw-up. We contacted Adela Ramos, PhD, and Tacoma Tree Foundation director of Partnerships and Communications for the exact location of her recommended London plane for our Tacoma Silent Trees series. Our phone conversation with Adela must have been loud.

“Not as loud as the light link construction,” replied the London plane.

Peaks & Pints first partnered with Tacoma Tree Foundation, or TTF, in the fall of 2019, pairing our then-house beer, Kulshan Brewing Tree-dimensional IPA, with TFF-selected trees around Tacoma. For 2024-25, we brewed our eighth house IPA at Loowit Brewing in downtown Vancouver. Since the brewery is named after Mount St. Helens and its eruption silenced many trees, we named the beer Silent Trees IPA and have partnered with the Tacoma Tree Foundation, once again, to tell the stories of their favorite trees.

Breaking silence near People’s Park

The young tree dropped its attitude after explaining our Tacoma Silent Trees project to the London plane.

“I’ve seen a lot in my short life on Hilltop,” explains the London plane on South 10th Street just west of People’s Park. “The homeless encampment was rough. And the light rail construction rattled my roots. But, 12 years ago, when the playground and cool art pierce arrived at the park — what joy!” The artist, Paul, hung around for four months. His benches are cool. He was cool. So talented.”

In 2012 the park received significant improvements due to the 2005 bond measure, and a new playground was built. Along with this work came new public art commissioned by the City of Tacoma. Beginning the process in 2010, the Tacoma Arts Commission selected artist Paul Rucker, who created a piece called “Human Rights Legacy”. Rucker’s engagement with the community resulted in three glass and granite benches being installed along the walkways in the park. The 2013 dedication plaque reads:

“Human Rights Legacy is a trio of benches designed to encourage dialogue and reflection, is the culmination of an 8-month residency which included conversations and workshops that engaged Tacoma’s rich and diverse multi-generational communities to explore connections between Tacoma’s human rights history and our current human rights imperative – the opportunity gap.

“During the residency, Paul Rucker, along with artists Tilson and Hollis Wong Wear, worked with youth from Fab 5, a Tacoma-based urban arts education organization, to explore what the term “opportunity gap” meant to them. The text etched into these benches was contributed by Davon White, Keun Simms, Ericka Dennis, Dillon Skedd-Leisure, Deven Grenier, Tilson, and Paul Rucker.

“The project was completed in collaboration with American Leadership Forum, Tacoma/Pierce County Class XVI who initiated the concept encouraging deep community conversation around this important issue.”

A London plane tree grows at South 10th Street in Tacoma’s Hilltop Neighborhood, across the street from Mi Centro. Photo by Adela Ramos

London plane | platanus × acerifolia

“The London plane, or platanus × acerifoli, can stand as tall as 130 feet over our streets, providing us shade and beauty,” says Ramos.  “It is a cross between an American sycamore and an oriental plane. This is evident in its scientific name with a multiplication symbol. However, they often get mistaken for a maple tree. In fact, the Latin name acerifolia refers to how its leaves resemble those of the maple (acer).

“London planes have unique qualities, and once you can identify them, you will begin to recognize them all over Tacoma,” she continues. “The leaves are palmately lobed, which means the leaf looks almost like it has fingers reaching out from the center. Dropping from their branches are prickly, spherical seeds. The wonky greyish-green bark is patchy and peels to expose smooth, creamy bark underneath.

“As you walk through your neighborhood, watch out for these trees that may be small saplings or giants reaching over the street. London planes have been planted in cities for over 200 years due to their adaptability to the urban environment and resistance to pollution. Remember to watch for the silent trees you haven’t noticed before!”

Peaks & Pints Craft Beer and Cider Lodge sits in Tacoma’s beloved Proctor District.

Check out this London Plane by People’s Park and then head to the Proctor District for a pint or Campfire Crowler of Loowit Silent Trees IPA (6.6%) at Peaks & Pints. Loowit Brewing in Vancouver, Washington, collaborated with the Tacoma craft beer lodge on their house beer. Paying homage to trees and outdoor enthusiasts who join Peaks daily in Tacoma’s Proctor District, Silent Trees IPA is the perfect beer to toast passing trees on powder, currents, or trails and reveal the sprains. Silent Trees IPA continues Peaks & Pints’ love affair with old-school piney IPAs, this time brewed with Simcoe, Columbus, and Chinook for all the pine and citrus.

“I’m hoping to see folks resting on the benches today on Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” encouraged the London plane. “It’s probably the dream of Paul and his team.”

LINK: Loowit Silent Trees IPA inspires Tacoma Tree stories

LINK: Tacoma Silent Trees: Breaking Silence at Oak Tree Park

LINK: Kulshan brews Peaks and Pints Tree-dimensional IPA