Donate to Public Lands
Salt Lake City Public Lands Department allows individuals, organizations or corporations to donate funds and/or items such as trees and benches to Salt Lake City open spaces/parks.
Tree and memorial bench donations keep the legacy of friends and loved ones alive in our city parks. These contributions remind us that are communities are at the heart of our public spaces and continue to be for years to come.
To request a donation, please fill out the form below.
Donation Process, Standards, and Procedures
Donor Information & Intake
- Donation Tracking Form is required for all donations.
- Donors must provide: name, mailing address, email, phone, and the purpose of the donation.
- Donors may request public anonymity; however, donor information must be collected for internal accounting, compliance, and records management.
Life Cycle & Maintenance
- Donated assets receive standard maintenance during their normal life
expectancy. - Public Lands is not obligated to replace assets that reach end of life or are
removed early due to safety, accessibility, or operational needs. - Repairs or replacements due to vandalism or theft are the donor’s responsibility, unless otherwise stated in the donation agreement.
Tree Donations
- Only monetary donations for planting/installation are accepted; in-kind tree donations are not permitted.
- Trees must be sourced through City approved vendors and must meet Urban Forestry species and planting standards.
- Planting occurs during the designated season (November–April).
- Plaques/signage are not allowed on trees; dedications will be recorded in the online tree dedication database.
- The Department will designate approved tree donation locations based on the availability of irrigation to support long-term tree health. Designated locations will include two future memorial tree groves at Riverside Park and Donner Park, which are intended to accommodate tree donations. The Department will also develop and maintain an online dedication database and interactive map to identify and track dedicated trees throughout the Salt Lake City Urban Forest. * (Coming Soon)
Benches & Amenities
- Benches, including memorial benches are only accepted for replacement or for
approved designated locations consistent with the existing asset management
database Memorial Benches must adhere to City Policy 57-9-5. - Bench types are restricted by location (Parks, Golf, Natural Lands) to maintain consistency, safety, and accessibility.
- Public Lands uses a standard bench design in most parks; certain parks/natural areas may have unique design standards that must be followed. Bench Types outlined in a separate Standard Details document.
- New bench installations and replacements are scheduled during nonwinter months, subject to staff availability.
Plaques & Memorial
General Standards
- Memorial plaques are only allowed for approved bench donations in accordance with City Policy 57-9-4. Pavers are not accepted.
- Memorials must align with intended park use and follow materials, design, and installation guidelines outlined in City Policy 57-9-5.
- The Department Director may decline any proposed plaque or memorial that does not meet City Policy 57-9-5, design standards, or legal requirements.
- For memorial bench plaques, we do not include birth and death dates. While these benches serve as a meaningful way to honor and remember loved ones, our parks are intended to celebrate the lives, memories, and connections people have to these spaces. To help maintain that focus, we reserve dates and similar commemorative information for cemetery settings and ask that memorial bench plaques instead emphasize the individual’s name and message of remembrance.
Approval Process Outlined in City Policy 57-9-5
- Proposals may be referred to the PNUT Advisory Board for additional review and input.
- All proposed language must be submitted to Public Lands for review and
approval prior to fabrication. - Donors must submit a narrative statement explaining how the donation meets City Ordinance 57-9-4 requirements.
Declining Donations
The Department Director may decline donations that:
- Do not align with adopted plans or City priorities;
- Impose unsustainable maintenance or liability burdens;
- Present safety, accessibility, legal, or design concerns;
- Are inconsistent with applicable laws, regulations, policies and or the public interest; or
- Include memorial content or terms considered inappropriate or noncompliant.
Advocate, mentor, friend”
Contact
Ashlyn Larsen
Email: [email protected]