2025: A Year of Impact with Public Lands Volunteers
In 2025, our volunteers showed what’s possible when a community comes together to care for our public lands. Over the course of 12 months, more than 2,400 volunteers rolled up their sleeves and dedicated their time, energy, and passion to restoring spaces across the city. The results speak for themselves.
By the Numbers
This year, volunteers contributed an incredible 6,200+ hours of labor across 83 volunteer sessions. These hours translated directly into cleaner green spaces and stronger community connections.
Growing Salt Lake City’s Urban Forest
Tree planting and care were a major focus in 2025. Volunteers planted 2,446 new trees and native plants, strengthening urban forests and restoring natural habitats. The impact of these efforts will last for decades. The 200+ newly planted trees alone are expected to produce more than 54,000 pounds of clean oxygen which is enough for 142 people to breathe for an entire year. Beyond oxygen, these trees provide shade, reduce urban heat, improve air quality, and create habitat for birds and pollinators.
Restoring Native Landscapes
Healthy ecosystems depend on native plants, and volunteers made a huge difference by removing 2,500+ pounds of invasive weeds, roughly 83 full wheelbarrows worth. Clearing invasive species gives native plants room to grow and helps restore balance to local landscapes.
As a result, natural spaces gained thousands of native seedlings, supporting more resilient, biodiverse ecosystems that can better withstand drought and disease.
Cleaning Up the Jordan River Trail
One of the most visible impacts of volunteer work this year was along the Jordan River Trail. Volunteers removed approximately 4,570 pounds of trash, or 2.3 tons of harmful debris, from the riverbank. That’s thousands of pounds of pollution prevented from entering the water, protecting wildlife and improving the experience for everyone who uses the trail.
More Than Just Numbers
While the statistics are impressive, they only tell part of the story. Each volunteer hour represents someone choosing to give back. Each tree planted and each bag of trash removed reflects a shared commitment to a cleaner environment.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed their time and energy this year. Together, we’re creating greener spaces and a more sustainable future for generations to come.
Thank you for making 2025 a year of lasting impact!