Salt Lake City Public Lands: 2026 Goals
Happy New Year! Exciting things are happening for Salt Lake City Public Lands in 2026. This year we are taking on more projects, hosting dynamic community events, and expanding our volunteer base across the city. In this blog post you’ll find each department’s goals for making an impact next year.
Activate parks (with a focus on our westside spaces) with engaging, family-friendly events.
Every year Public Lands hosts a wide range of free community events that bring together residents in Salt Lake City. In 2026, the goal is to activate parks with 17 event series, including nine on the westside. With beloved annual events like Yappy Hour and completely new programming, it is going to be a memorable year.
Host 100+ stewardship events and increase volunteer engagement.
In 2025, our Stewardship Team hosted 83 volunteer sessions and in 2026 we are aiming even higher. The goal is to host 100+ volunteer events, and YOU can be a part of the fun! Getting involved with Public Lands is a rewarding way to give back and make an impact on green spaces in your community. This year the stewardship team wants to continue celebrating dedicated, returning volunteers and to welcome and engage new ones! We hope that you’ll add volunteering with Public Lands to your list of New Years resolutions and join us in caring for Salt Lake City’s parks and open spaces.
Advance construction on 20+ projects
In the Department of Public Lands, our teams work on a wide variety of projects at any given time. In 2026, teams are undertaking impactful work including projects like Pioneer Park, Liberty Park Rotary Play Park, Miller Park, Glendale Phase 2, Jefferson Park, Donner Trail Park, Steenblik Park, bilingual signage, and the RAC Playground. These efforts reflect the department’s commitment to creating welcoming and accessible spaces for all.
Continue to improve trail conditions and access for all residents
The Trails & Natural Lands team works year-round to keep the city’s trails safe and enjoyable. In 2026, they will tackle projects in the Foothills, the Jordan River Natural Area, and other spaces around the city. These efforts will focus on accessibility and sustainability.
Update golf courses for the future.
The Golf Division will focus on maintaining existing facilities, addressing deferred maintenance, and completing key upgrades on golf courses around the city.
Plant more trees around the city
Our Urban Forestry team will continue expanding the number of trees in Salt Lake City to beautify our communities and strengthen the local environment. Ensuring that trees are healthy is always their priority and they will continue this important work in 2026!
2025 was full of exciting projects for Salt Lake City Public Lands, but we’re just getting started. Follow us on social media @slcpubliclands to stay connected and see all of the great work happening in our parks and public spaces in 2026!
Tags: 2026goals, Be W.I.L.D, BeWILD, public lands, salt lake city, SLC Public Lands, SLCtrails, Stewardship, trails