Dear Salt Lakers,
Happy early 801 Day! Celebrated on August 1, it’s a tribute to our area code and the local pride and unmistakable quirks that make Salt Lake City feel like home. To celebrate, keep your eyes peeled for a special announcement about the next mural design for “Out of the Blue”—the beloved public art installation we affectionately call “The Whale.”
Trees and shade for the 9-Line and Fleet Block
Salt Lake City is one of eight U.S. cities receiving funding in 2026 through the Bezos Earth Fund’s Greening America’s Cities initiative. Together, the grants will provide $11.5 million to add trees, shade, and green space along the 9-Line Trail and at the future Fleet Block open space.
- 9-Line Trail: A $9.5 million grant will help transform 9.5 blocks—or 1.7 miles—of gravel park strips by adding 285 trees and 350 water-wise shrubs to cool the area, provide shade, and improve air quality.
- Fleet Block: A $2 million grant will support the planting of 150 trees and help replace hard surfaces at the former industrial site with lawn areas, native plants, and rain gardens.
Coming soon: Fewer rail delays on North Temple
Westside neighbors have been waiting for this project to break ground. By moving Salt Lake Garfield & Western Railways’ interchange operations out of Poplar Grove, waits at rail crossings will be shorter and long backups on North Temple will happen less often! We’re grateful to our federal, state, rail, and regional partners for helping make this long-awaited westside improvement possible.
A bright future for downtown
This month, I spoke at the annual State of Downtown and reflected on the people, businesses, and institutions shaping the heart of our city. New numbers show that our care and efforts downtown, which drives our city’s and state’s economy, are paying off:
- 30.7 million customer days downtown in the past year—more people coming to work, shop, dine, gather, celebrate, and experience the heart of Salt Lake City.
- 4.7 million attendees at downtown venues in 2025.
- 16.3% increase in venue attendance compared to the year before.
Perhaps most impressive, that growth happened even with the Delta Center closed from April through September for renovations.
Celebrating 36 years of the ADA
We celebrated the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act this week. Special shoutout to Maddie Jones, a wheelchair user and assistant to the CEO of the Salt Lake Film Society, who was presented with Salt Lake City’s inaugural 2026 ADA Champion Award for her outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing accessibility and inclusion throughout our community.
We’re grateful to the Utah Transit Authority for co-hosting the celebration and especially thankful for the work of Salt Lake City’s Accessibility and Disability Commission. If you have any ideas or concerns, you can reach out to [email protected].
Find a place to cool down
Summer temperatures have been exceptionally hot, and everyone should have access to a safe place to cool off. Public buildings throughout Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County are available as temporary cooling spaces. Salt Lake County has created a map of its 2026 Cool Zones to help residents find a nearby site.
Free Upcoming Events
Looking for affordable ways to enjoy summer with family and friends? These free community events happening across Salt Lake City offer something for everyone.
- August 2: Pilates in the Park, 9 – 10 a.m., Donner Trail Park (every Sunday in August to October)
- August 6: Music in the Meadows, 6 – 9 p.m., Meadows Park, 1938 W 400 N
- August 10: Mondays in the Park Concert Series, 7 p.m. Chase Home Museum Lawn in Liberty Park (Also, Aug. 17)
- August 13: Yappy Hour, 6 – 9 p.m., at Cottonwood Park
- August 14–16: Salt Lake Criterium, Granary District, 660 S 400 W
- August 22: Kensington Street Festival, 2 p.m., Kensington Ave between Major and Main
- August 22: Bonnie Ball, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Neighborhood Hive, 2065 E 2100 S
- August 27: Jefferson Jams, 6 – 8 p.m., Jefferson Park
- August 29: KRCL’s Day in the Park, 12 – 5 p.m., International Peace Gardens
As always, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
Your friend,
