In July 1847, the Mississippi Company, led by John Holladay, arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley in covered wagons. Shortly after their arrival, they discovered a flowing stream fed by springs near what is now Kentucky Avenue. Holladay soon became the first settlement in the valley established away from the Great Salt Lake area. 

The Mississippi Company likely chose this location for its natural resources. Cottonwood trees were abundant along the streams in the Salt Lake Valley, particularly along Big Cottonwood Creek. The river originates in the Wasatch Mountains and flows through a significant portion of Holladay, passing by Knudsen and Creekside parks. Pioneer accounts specifically mention the presence of groves of box elder and water birch trees near the streams. The abundance of trees made Holladay one of the most desirable sites for settlement in the valley.

Today, the city of Holladay’s tree canopy covers about 40% of its area, with some trees dating back to the 1850s. Over the years, the Holladay community, past and present city officials, and employees have worked together to preserve and expand upon the vision of the Holladay area as first encountered for settlement by the Mississippi Company.

Mayor Rob Dahle adds his signature to the tree dedication document. Everyone in attendance signed the document ensuring their names would be linked forever to the celebration of the tree planting. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)

A celebration sponsored by the Holladay Tree Committee was held at Knudsen Park in September for an official tree planting ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of Holladay City’s incorporation. 

“Trees are a pretty big branding piece in the city of Holladay,” Mayor Rob Dahle said. “The city has held the Tree City USA designation for many years. We've made considerable efforts to implement tree ordinances that ensures we can replace the tree canopy in areas undergoing development. It can be challenging to navigate the public process when it involves people’s private property rights. It has been a big deal. Protecting the tree canopy in Holladay has been a key focus for both the city and the community. The tree ordinance requires that if someone wants to scrape a lot, a specific amount of the canopy must be replaced. Additionally, every other year, we give away 250 to 300 trees to residents through our tree voucher program."

According to Bob Stevens, Holladay Tree Committee chair, when selecting the tree to be planted in Knudsen Park, careful attention was given to choosing a species of tree that would be appropriate to the local climate, yet representative of Holladay's history.   

“What we’ve selected here is a cottonless cottonwood, another name for it is Siouxland poplar,” Stevens said. “Known for its large leaves that turn yellow in the fall and its ability to reach heights of 60 to 80 feet, it will be a beautiful shade tree for Knudsen Park. The tree canopy is very important to the Holladay community, as many people move here because of the abundance of trees.” 

When selecting the site for the tree, considerable attention was given to the location. Holladay City Councilmember Matt Durham serves as the council representative to the Tree Committee and acknowledged the dedication of those involved in organizing the tree planting event. 

“It’s great to recognize the incorporation of Holladay,” Durham said. “I want to thank the city of Holladay Community and Economic Development Director John Teerlink, who helped identify the location for the tree and the species of tree. One of the past projects I’ve worked on with John is an ordinance to provide a larger tree canopy in parking lots so that they won’t become a significant heat island. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge the tree committee. They are a very active group of concerned citizens who help to protect the trees in Holladay for the next generation.”  

Cecilie Mattison, a member of the tree committee and the lead organizer of the celebration, invited everyone present to sign a tree dedication document. By doing so, attendees ensured that their names would be linked forever to the celebration of the tree planting. Following this, participants formed a meaningful circle around the tree, symbolically uniting their strength and encouragement to ensure the cottonless cottonwood would thrive for generations to come. The gathering represented the community's commitment to preserving Holladay's tree canopy, which has enhanced the well-being and aesthetics of the community for over 175 years.