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Posts tagged ‘parks’

Sep 26

Have you seen the new Washington Square Garden?

Salt Lake City’s 18-year old conservation demonstration garden continues to thrive with a new site plan and plants

The Washington Square Water Wise Garden with City and County Building in background.
The Washington Square Water-Wise Garden

This spring, the Salt Lake City Parks Division planted a new garden in Washington Square on the east side of the City-County Building on 200 East between 400 and 500 South.

The bright flowers, colorful foliage, and sweet smells have greeted visitors all summer as they enter the Capital City’s flagship municipal building.

As we wind down the summer season, we thought it’d be fun to highlight the new garden—and take a walk down memory lane to celebrate the original creation of this special space back in 2001.

The First Conservation Garden

It was just before the 2002 Olympics brought the world to Salt Lake City, and this signature outdoor space was re-constructed to demonstrate the City’s commitment to sustainability. At that time, it was one of the first examples in Salt Lake City showcasing how beautiful a low-water garden can be.

At the end of the last century (20th that is), the area to the east of the City-County Building was a mixture of grass, annuals, and asphalt– which, as you can imagine, was more parking-centric and the grass was thirsty.

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Nov 15

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Join the Pesticide Free SLC Campaign!

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As you may know, Salt Lake City has partnered with the Healthy Babies Bright Futures alliance to conduct an assessment and implement approaches to reduce exposure to certain chemicals deemed most risky for babies in their first 1,000 days of development.

One of the ways we’re doing that is by piloting organic turf management at two Salt Lake City parks, with the goal of adding more City properties.

Now we’re asking you to join us! Take the pledge to be Pesticide Free in your landscaping. You’ll get a yard sign, as well as a helpful toolkit for how to use organic methods at your home or businesses.

“Pesticide Free SLC” is a public campaign to educate and encourage Salt Lake City residents and businesses to phase out chemical pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer use from their landscaping. Read more

Sep 20

Riverfest 2017 is Right Around the Corner!

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Fairpark Trailead: 1220 W North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 

The Get into the River Festival is a month-long series of community events centered on the Jordan River and Jordan River Parkway.

This Saturday, September 23, the Festival brings together the community, businesses and local governments to celebrate, restore, explore and recreate on the Jordan River corridor.

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Jan 28

Online reservations for Salt Lake City park pavilions begins February 1

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The Salt Lake City Parks & Public Lands Division will begin taking 2016 online park pavilion reservations on Monday, February 1, 2016 beginning at 8 a.m. at: www.slcgov.com/cityparks-reservations

Telephone reservations can be made starting Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. by calling 801-972-7860. Walk-in reservations can also be made at the Parks & Public Lands Division Building, 1965 West 500 South. Phone and walk-in reservations can be made Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through October 7.

Online reservations start two weeks before phone and walk-in as a convenience and are highly encouraged. The online process saves wait time in long lines, particularly for reserving the city’s more popular pavilions such as Liberty, Sunnyside, and Washington parks.

Park pavilions available for reservation are in Fairmont, Jordan, Liberty, Lindsey Gardens, Poplar Grove, Riverside, Sherwood, Sunnyside, Washington and Westpointe parks. Pavilions are available from April 11 through October 9. All reservations must be paid for at time of transaction by debit or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express). Costs range from $44 to $55, with the lower reflected reservation prices for Salt Lake City residents. The exception is Washington Park in Parley’s Canyon, which is available for half-days from $82 to $110.

Residents can get even more from their park experience by renting recreation kits through the Parks & Public Lands Division. A kit includes two softballs, two baseball bats, a volleyball and volleyball net, a set of horseshoes, a football and a soccer ball. Kits can be picked up the day before or day of the pavilion reservation for $11 each. Kits are available only to those who have reserved pavilions and must be returned to Parks & Public Lands on the first business day after the reservation.

Questions? Call Parks & Public Lands Division before February 1 at (801) 972-7800.

May 20

It’s Time to “Get into the River!” — Festival on May 31

GetintoRiverEvent

Come celebrate the Jordan River on Saturday, May 31st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a great opportunity to learn about the animals and habitats supported by the river and how communities and individuals are enjoying it each and every day.

Both educational and recreational demonstrations during the festivities.

Bring your bikes, strollers or walking shoes and experience the Jordan River Parkway!

What: Get into the River Festival

When: Saturday, May 31st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Jordan Park (900 West 1000 South)

More Information: GetintotheRiver.org. 

Download the schedule of events (PDF)

Apr 4

“Get Into the River” Festival: Join the Fun on May 31

Salt Lake City Parks & Public Lands invites you to their Get Into the River Festival on Saturday, May 31 at Jordan Park! Free lunch, canoe rides, bike rodeo, food vendors, hip hop lessons and more on the books.
Get Into the River Brochure

Mar 12

Rotary Glen Restoration is Underway

Watershed restoration at Rotary Glen Park is underway!

Emigration Creek is one of the many tributaries of the Jordan River and the home to the Bonneville cutthroat trout (which is on Utah’s sensitive species list). The quality of its water is critical to help maintain a healthy watershed for people, fish and other wildlife.

In 2002, Emigration Creek was declared an impaired waterway due to high levels of the bacteria E. coli. Bacteria levels are highest in the summer months due to waste from park visitors’ canine companions and warmer temperatures.

The restoration plan is to:

  • Improve water quality by installing a fence along the southeast edge of the pond to keep dogs and people out of the creek.
  • Enhance habitat—which is critical for migratory and native bird species—by replacing Siberian elms with native foliage like cottonwood trees.
  • Address public safety and stabilize the hill with slope grading and new vegetation planting.

Fun Restoration Fact: What is the benefit of planting vegetation along the water’s edge? Vegetation creates a buffer for people and dogs, keeps the water in the creek cool by shading, and filters bacteria from runoff.

Come springtime Rotary Glen Park will once again be a safe urban sanctuary for you to picnic, bring your dogs (their poop bags, too), and enjoy nature.

RotaryGlenHere’s a recent photo of the work that is underway.

If you are like us, you might be wondering why the workers are filling the pond behind the dam with dirt.

We asked a County employee, who explained that in order for the heavy equipment to access the other side of the creek, workers have to first move the dirt to create a platform for the backhoe and then grade the slope.

Can’t wait to see the project when it’s done!

Jan 22

New Signs Coming to Salt Lake Parks

ParksSignOpenHouseSalt Lake City is seeking public input on the creation of a new, citywide signage system for public spaces and invites residents to an open house event on Thursday, January 23rd from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre at the Sorenson Unity Center, 1383 S. 900 West.

Salt Lake City is home to one of the most diverse parks and open space systems in the nation.

From steep foothills to parkway trails tracing the Jordan River, the City’s open spaces help define the community’s quality of life.

In order to enhance the user experience and stewardship of these spaces, Landmark Design, Inc. was selected to lead planning and design efforts toward the creation of a comprehensive signage system for the City’s parks, natural lands and trails.

The purpose of the project is twofold: (1) establish a plan that outlines the signage standards for enhancing the user experience, and then (2) create the design of specific signs for nine sites below:

  • Bonneville Shoreline Preserve
  • Bonneville Shoreline Trail
  • Ensign Peak Trail
  • Hidden Hollow Natural Area
  • H-Rock Open Space
  • Jordan River Parkway
  • Miller Park Bird Refuge
  • Parley’s Historic Nature Park
  • Wasatch Hollow Open Space

This is the first of three public meetings scheduled during winter/spring 2014 for the public to review progress and provide input on this project.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to weigh in on the future of our flagship parks and open spaces!

More Information

Oct 11

Weigh in on Proposed Upgrades in Liberty Park

20111023_4589...Liberty Park in Salt Lake City

Dave Beedon (listorama) via Flickr

Liberty Park & Tracy Aviary Site Design Workshop

Thursday October 24 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Tracy Aviary Education Center inside Liberty Park (589 East 1300 South)

Salt Lake City and The Friends of Tracy Aviary are partnering to re-purpose the land in Liberty Park surrounding the concession stand, including the vacant land adjacent to the Aviary and the amusement park ride area of the Park.

Tracy Aviary will build a Tropical Rain Forest building/exhibit on approximately 50% of the vacant space adjacent to the Aviary, and the City would like to facilitate community input for ideas about how to enhance this west entrance to the park and utilize the remaining space in the future.

A Site Planning Workshop to explore these issues is scheduled for Thursday October 24 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Tracy Aviary’s Education Center.

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