On summer afternoons, the Moab heat can be extreme. Sun-baked sidewalks can radiate heat like a griddle, forcing barefoot pets and toddlers to dash for shaded patches.
Starting July 19, Moab City will harness that lived experience to gather street-level temperature data that will guide future shade structures, tree plantings and other cooling strategies.
Residents repeatedly posted “more shade” notes at visioning and parks forums, where people described seeking relief under the few cottonwoods lining Main Street. The new playground at Swanny Park has been wildly popular since its opening this summer, partly due to its cooling shade structures.
Tapping an urban forestry grant and expertise from the Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring and Kappa Strategies, plus outreach support from Science Moab, the city now aims to fill data gaps on where Moab truly feels hottest at human height.
“We can’t make it cooler outside, but we can try to make it more comfortable,” Moab City Sustainability Director Alexi Lamm said. “We’re using sensors to collect data at approximately the height of a person, whether you’re walking, driving or living on these streets.”
How will the Moab heat mapping project work?
Phase one on July 19 invites volunteers to drive three loops—morning, afternoon and evening—along urban corridors, parks and trailheads where pavement transforms playground slides into hot metal by mid-day. Immediately afterward, teams will install 12 stationary monitors at community-selected sites for 12 weeks.
“Volunteers will visit each sensor about every two weeks to download data,” Lamm explained. “That’s our backup plan in case a monitor malfunctions or needs repositioning.”
Moab City expects a detailed heat map in six to eight weeks, revealing hidden hotspots—like the asphalt lot behind City Market that can exceed 120°F—and cooler green pockets shaded by riparian cottonwoods.
What can we do to lower the heat?
“Once we see where the heat really matters, we can align those sites with funding opportunities—shade sails, tree canopy grants or reflective coatings,” Lamm said. She noted an original urban-forestry grant was cut short, and local groups—including the Grand County Trail Ambassadors—have since loaned out their department’s sensors and infrared cameras to keep the project moving.
Early interventions will target low-cost measures that can be installed quickly, such as shade sails over busy bus stops or reflective pavement coatings on playgrounds.
“If we identify strategies that require more resources—like large-canopy trees or permanent shade pavilions—we’ll pursue additional grants or partnerships,” Lamm said. The city is also exploring community cooling centers and pop-up misting stations for the hottest days.
Once published, the heat map—and its raw data—will be available soon on the project dashboard at engagemoab.com/heat. Sites with viable grant funding will rise to the top for scheduling shade and tree installations. Detailed timelines will follow as funding is secured.
City staff are developing criteria to ensure heat-vulnerable neighborhoods—areas with older adults, outdoor workers or scant tree canopy—receive early attention.
Volunteer training begins this week, and a public awareness event at Swanny Park is planned for July 19 with free popsicles and projects. The event will run from 10 a.m. to noon, then 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. — avoiding the hot midday sun, of course.
Get Involved
To join the heat-mapping effort, visit https://engagemoab.com/heat or email sustainability@moabcity.org. Volunteer training is set for July 15, so don’t delay!
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