On April 21, the Dimple Dell Preservation Community (DDPC) is hosting an Earth Day Cleanup at Dimple Dell Park, and they’re looking for volunteers.

“This year with the planning and organizing that we’ve done, we expect a much bigger cleanup event,” said Monica Zoltanski, who founded the Dimple Dell Preservation Community last year. “We’re tackling the whole part from end to end, from 300 East all the way up to Granite Park.”          

Last year, the event brought out about a hundred people according to Zoltanski, and this year she said she’s hoping for hundreds more.       

Because of the number of volunteers they are planning for, the DDPC is pre-registering groups of eight or more volunteers and assigning them to specific work zones within the park.          

Those who don’t register beforehand are still welcome to come help out. Volunteers can go to the Wrangler trailhead between 9 and 9:30 a.m. to register and receive an assignment.

“We won’t turn away anyone, but we’ll ask that people come prepared to work,” said Zoltanski.

The DDPC is encouraging volunteers to wear long pants, long-sleeve shirts, sturdy hiking boots, and to bring their own work gloves. They also ask that each group bring their own shovels and hand trowels.

All the volunteers for the event will also be able to sign up for a special volunteer worker compensation coverage through Salt Lake County by signing a form at the Wrangler trailhead that morning.

“Hopefully we won’t need it, but if anything should happen and someone gets hurt, it would be covered,” said Zoltanski.

The DDPC was founded last year when a group of neighbors and park users banded together to oppose a plan by Salt Lake County to put a new asphalt trail in the park. The group was successful; Salt Lake County agreed to abandon the asphalt trail and use the funds for other park improvements, such as converting the park’s current restrooms, which are only open seasonally, into year-round restrooms.

“We are probably a great case study for how regular citizens can really get involved and make a difference,” said Zoltanski. “I’m really proud of what we did last year with the asphalt trail, but we’ve really grown as an organization.”

Some of the group’s goals are to continue organizing cleanup events, community education efforts, and historic preservation.

“We’re dedicated to preserving the natural state of Dimple Dell Park, keeping the terrain clean and natural for the native plants and the wildlife that live in the park. We want to keep it a pristine wilderness experience for the park users.”

Those wanting to volunteer as a group can pre-register until March 31 by contacting the Dimple Dell Preservation Community through their Facebook page or by emailing them at [email protected].