Explore the great outdoors with a visit to a Salt Lake County park, trail, or open space. Amenities and opportunities for multiple user groups.
Explore nature and participate in a variety of activities at our beautifully maintained parks. Find a Salt Lake County park near you.
Hours Dawn to Dusk (approximately 7:00am– 10:00pm)
Experience nature through the sounds of the Jordan River or tree-lined views of the Salt Lake Valley while commuting and connecting on miles of trails maintained by Salt Lake County.
We use a scientific baseline measurement called Evapotranspiration (ET), which calculates watering requirements based on daily site-specific weather conditions. Instead of watering to calculated ET baseline, we water only to a specific percentage of the baseline necessary for the plants—averaging 65% of the baseline across our park system.
Based on data from severe droughts in 2021 and 2022, we determined that watering at 65% of the recommended Evapotranspiration (ET) level is our operational "floor". Dropping below this level causes permanent damage or total loss of the park turf, which is a significant cost to replace.
Our smart irrigation systems measure the actual amount of rainfall received. If a storm does not provide enough deep moisture to reach our precise park turf health targets, the system provides the calculated additional water to keep the turf resilient. Watering during a storm or when it is cloudy can reduce evaporation and help moisture penetrate deeper into the soil.
While we are constantly evolving, data-driven watering is a long-standing practice for us. Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation has utilized smart irrigation technology like WeatherTRAK for over 10 years to manage our park turf.
We have modified our mowing heights to 3.0" in general areas because it helps naturally conserve water. Taller blades of grass shade the soil surface to reduce evaporation and encourage deeper root systems that can access moisture further underground.
Our 2026 strategy includes a specialized nutrient program. We have added Potassium to our fertilizer mix to build root mass and enhance drought tolerance, along with wetting agents that help soil retain moisture longer.
Yes. We prioritize high-traffic sports fields and active areas (watering at 75% of the suggested Evapotranspiration (ET) baseline) to ensure safety and playability for the community. Passive or general lawn areas are reduced to watering just 58% of the ET baseline.
