Park Cleanup

Awareness & Understanding

Salt Lake City has more than 100 public parks, trails, and green spaces — from Liberty Park and Jordan River Parkway to neighborhood pocket parks in every district. But parks only stay beautiful when the community takes care of them. In this first step, walk through a park near your home and pay attention to what you see: Is there litter? Are the trails clear? Are picnic tables in good shape? Take a few photos of both the beautiful parts and the areas that need attention. Visit the Salt Lake City Parks and Recreation website at slc.gov/parks to learn about current volunteer programs and cleanup events already happening in your city. You are ready for the next step when you can describe two specific problems you noticed in your park visit and explain why they matter to the people who use that space.

Research & Investigation

Before you organize a cleanup, find out what is already happening so you can join or build on existing efforts. Search for volunteer cleanup events through Keep Salt Lake City Beautiful at keepslcbeautiful.org and the Jordan River Commission at jordanriver.us — both run regular cleanup days open to the public. Look up whether your target park has an "adopt a park" program through Salt Lake City's parks department. Research what types of waste are most common in Utah parks: litter surveys from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality show cigarette butts, plastic bottles, and food wrappers top the list. Note any hazardous materials you should leave for professionals. You are ready for the next step when you can identify the most common types of litter in your chosen park and name one local organization already doing cleanup work there.

Planning & Preparation

A successful park cleanup takes a little planning but does not require a big budget. Choose a date and time — weekend mornings work well for volunteers. Register your event with Salt Lake City Parks and Recreation so they can provide supplies like bags and gloves, and sometimes even extra help. Recruit at least five friends, classmates, or neighbors by sending a group message or posting a flyer. Divide your park into zones so no area gets missed. Make a simple supply checklist: trash bags, gloves, sunscreen, water, and a first aid kit. Check the weather forecast and have a backup date ready just in case. Let participants know what to wear and what to bring. You are ready for the next step when you have a confirmed date, a list of at least five volunteers, and your supplies arranged.

Taking Action

Cleanup day is here. Start with a safety briefing: remind everyone not to pick up needles or broken glass with bare hands and to use the grabbers and gloves provided. Assign each volunteer or small team to their zone. Keep the energy positive — play music if the park allows it, and celebrate milestones like filling the first bag. Weigh or count the bags of trash you collect so you have a real number to share later. Take photos throughout the event, especially before-and-after shots of the most improved areas. Thank every volunteer personally before they leave. Bag and dispose of all waste properly using the park's bins or city dumpsters. You are ready for the next step when your cleanup is complete and you have documented the amount of trash collected with photos and numbers.

Leadership & Expansion

One cleanup is great; a sustained effort is transformational. Plan your next event and make it bigger — aim for double the volunteers by reaching out to a school club, faith community, or neighborhood council. Apply to become an official "Adopt a Park" sponsor through Salt Lake City so your group takes ongoing responsibility for a specific area. Write a short proposal to your school or a local business asking for donated supplies or a small sponsorship. Teach the younger volunteers from your first cleanup how to lead a zone on their own. Present your cleanup results at a neighborhood council meeting or city council public comment period to advocate for better park maintenance funding. You are ready for the next step when you have scheduled a second cleanup event and taken on a formal or ongoing leadership role.

Impact & Reflection

Step back and look at what your effort has created. Compare your before-and-after photos and calculate the total weight or volume of trash removed across all your events. Write a one-paragraph impact summary: how many volunteers participated, how much was collected, and what you noticed about the park's condition over time. Share your results with Keep Salt Lake City Beautiful or the Jordan River Commission — both organizations celebrate community volunteers publicly. Post your story on a neighborhood app or submit it to your school or local newspaper. Think about what you would do differently and write two goals for the next season of cleanup. You are ready for the next step when you have published your impact results in at least one public space and set written goals for continuing the work.