March 3, 2025

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Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall has named Kim Shelley as her recommendation to lead the City’s Department of Public Lands.

“Our public lands shape the way Salt Lakers experience our communities, from the parks where we gather to the trails that connect us to nature,” Mayor Mendenhall said. “Kim has spent her career ensuring Utah’s natural resources are well cared for and thoughtfully managed, and I know she’ll bring that same dedication to every acre of our City’s green space.”

Shelley most recently served as the executive director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. She has more than 20 years of experience in environmental and natural resource management. During her career, Shelley has spearheaded statewide planning initiatives, infrastructure investments, and operational improvements. She has a track record of ensuring fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability.

Her leadership philosophy is rooted in collaboration, and she is well-known as an intelligent and transparent leader.

“I am honored for the opportunity to serve as Salt Lake City’s Director of Public Lands,” Shelley said. “Our City’s open spaces are at the heart of our community, enriching our quality of life and connecting us to nature and one another. I believe deeply in the importance of responsible stewardship of these lands for the benefit of all community members, and I look forward to fostering collaborative partnerships that protect, enhance, and expand these treasured places for generations to come.” 

Shelley has a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Utah. She will go before the City Council on March 4 for advice and consent, in addition to Brian Redd, who was recommended as the Salt Lake City Police Department’s next police chief.

Salt Lake City’s Department of Public Lands encompasses stewardship of:

• 735 acres of park land
• 30 miles of trails and 1,650 acres of natural lands
• Urban forestry, with an inventory of more than 91,000 trees 
• Six golf courses 
• 60 multi-use and athletic fields and courts
• Event permitting
• The largest municipally-owned cemetery in the United States 

Public Lands has also created detailed plans for completing projects that are part of the 2022 Parks, Trails and Open Space General Obligation (GO) Bond, including Glendale Regional Park, Liberty Park Playground, Allen Park, and many neighborhood parks. Learn more at www.slc.gov/parks.