Tacoma’s Silent Trees: Paper Birches Speak at Senator Rosa Franklin Park

“We have seen much,” said the paper birch trees at Senator Rosa Franklin Park, their silvered limbs trembling with pride.

“We’ve shaded the laughter of children and the footsteps of generations. We’ve endured seasons of silence, of song, of change.”

But on February 22, 2021, as neighbors gathered beneath their branches and the wind held its breath, the birches watched something new—not the naming of a place, but the naming of a promise.

“We saw a community rise,” they’d say, “to honor a woman who carved justice into the bones of policy, who spoke equity in a voice stronger than thunder, more patient than rain.”

As the sign was unveiled—Senator Rosa Franklin Park—the birch bark curled slightly tighter, not from age, but from reverence and recognition.

“About time,” they’d whisper with rustling grace.

“May her name root deeper than ours.”

Tacoma Tree Foundation

Peaks & Pints first partnered with the Tacoma Tree Foundation, or TTF, in the fall of 2019, pairing our then-house beer, Kulshan Brewing Tree-dimensional IPA, with TTF-selected trees around Tacoma. For the 2024–25 season, 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 have named the beer Silent Trees IPA and partnered with the Tacoma Tree Foundation once again to tell the stories of their favorite trees. The TTF sent us to Senator Rosa Franklin Park to chat with the paper birch trees lining the west side of the park at 12th and South Puget Sound Avenue.

Paper Birches Break Silence at Senator Rosa Franklin Park

The paper birches of the west side of the park, saplings once, are now storytellers in white bark and dappled shade.

“We learned most of the park’s history from the elders—fir and maple, chestnut and cedar—who spoke of 1937, when this land was gifted to the people, and of the lake that once mirrored the sky before it was filled in for safety’s sake,” said one of the paper birches. “They told us of twilight theaters, horseshoe pits, and the scent of picnics on sunstruck grass. We’ve listened as this place grew into itself—fields worn smooth by play, blackberry brambles cleared by steady hands, voices rising for justice. And when the sign changed in 2021 to honor Senator Rosa Franklin, we rustled in collective applause, knowing the park had grown not just in roots and trails, but in truth.”

On February 22, 2021, Franklin Park in Tacoma was officially renamed Senator Rosa Franklin Park, honoring the trailblazing legacy of Rosa Franklin, the first Black woman elected to the Washington State Senate. The dedication ceremony celebrated Franklin’s decades of service as a nurse, civic leader, and state legislator representing Tacoma’s 29th District from 1993 to 2010. At 93 years old, Franklin spoke with heartfelt gratitude, recalling her ties to the neighborhood—her children once attended nearby Franklin Elementary, and she lived just blocks from the park. Metro Parks Tacoma emphasized that while the historic name “Franklin Park” could still be used colloquially, the official renaming marked a shift toward celebrating community icons who shaped the city’s values. The park continues to serve as a gathering place for civic events and volunteer efforts, embodying Senator Franklin’s lifelong commitment to public service, health equity, and social justice.

Paper Birch | Betula papyrifera

“The features of the paper birch are unmistakable: tall, reaching, white trunks with thin pieces of bark peeling back that reveal a fresh new layer,” explains Julie Wolf, communication coordinator for the Tacoma Tree Foundation. “Their 2- to 4-inch serrated (like a saw) leaves turn a striking yellow in the fall, creating a magical golden canopy. They thrive in the cooler climates of Canada and the northern United States, and we are grateful that Washington is one of the places they call home. Birches begin their lives with brown bark, but as they mature, the bark becomes lighter, turning a creamy white. Through the years, thin sheets of outer bark begin to peel off, perfect for writing notes or love letters. This is where they derive the name paper birch or white birch.

“These deciduous trees grow to be between 50 and 70 feet, with narrow trunks that grow to only 30 inches in diameter,” Wolf continues. “Their logs have been used by North American tribes to carve canoes, giving them the name canoe birch. They are also used to create baskets, buckets, soaps, and shampoos. Paper birches play an essential role in our ecosystems, providing food to moose, deer, hares, beavers, voles, birds, and many others. In the spring, they can be tapped for sap from which syrup, wine, beer, or medicinal tonics can be made.

“The paper birch is a magnificent tree to lay your eyes upon,” she adds. “Their stunning features make them stand out on our streets and in our forests. As always, don’t forget to admire the valuable trees that bring so much beauty and other amazing benefits to our city.”

Loowit Brewing Silent Trees IPA

Check out the paper birch trees close to the baseball field at Senator Rosa Franklin 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 hops for a blend of pine and citrus notes.

“On the day they renamed this place Senator Rosa Franklin Park, we rustled with pride. We knew her name belonged in our soil,” a paper birch spoke. “We’d heard the stories—of a nurse who became a senator, of justice carved gently but firmly into law. We saw her stand beneath our limbs, speaking with grace and fire. We whispered our thanks into the breeze.”