November 2020
What to Expect in SLC Public Lands this Winter

As an unprecedented year continues for SLC Public Lands, we want to provide an update about how our operations will be affected heading into winter.

Please click the button below for information about how Public Lands service levels continue to be affected by COVID-19 and the September windstorm, as well as information about where portable restrooms will be available in city parks throughout the winter:
Three Creeks Confluence Project Updates

Construction on the Three Creeks Confluence project continues to move forward. Contractors are busy constructing the new stream channel and have recently begun removing sections of the culvert that contains Emigration, Parleys and Red Butte creeks.

Also, a new new pedestrian bridge has been installed across the creeks. The boardwalk leading to the bridge will have 20 steel public art panels that will be installed in the coming weeks.

Work on the project is anticipated to continue throughout the winter and into the spring of 2021.
1,000th Westside Tree

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and her family planted a London Planetree in Riverside Park on November 21st, marking the 1,000th tree planted in the City’s westside neighborhoods in 2020. The 1,000 Trees Initiative was one of the Mayor’s campaign promises to Salt Lakers to add 1,000 more trees, and the benefits they provide, to the City’s westside every year she is in office.

“I’m so happy to have planted this tree in the ground today...I’m heartened by the years of benefits our city’s residents will gain from the 1,000 trees we planted this year,” Mayor Mendenhall said. “By adding an additional 1,000 trees over and above what we typically do, we stand to actually increase our urban forest year after year. I can’t thank our partners, volunteers, and our City teams enough for seeing this through.”
Jordan River Boat Ramp

Construction crews have begun pouring the new Jordan River boat ramp located at 1800 North and Redwood Road. This project is the first of three new boat ramps that will be constructed along the Jordan River within Salt Lake City. When complete these new ramps will provide recreational users with safe, high quality access points for canoeing and kayaking the Jordan River. SLC has been working with partners to make this project a reality, including the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, Utah Department of Natural Resources, and Rocky Mountain Power.
Cemetery Master Plan

Recently, the Salt Lake City Council adopted a new master plan for the City Cemetery. The master plan will serve as a framework for the City to: 

1) Guide preservation and management of the Cemetery 
2) Expand access to and enhance appropriate uses of the Cemetery as a multi-use facility
3) Address the future financial sustainability of the Cemetery.

The City’s 120-acre cemetery opened officially in 1849. It is facing challenges similar to those experienced by other historic cemeteries, including dwindling capacity, limited expansion opportunities, and funding challenges. The master plan includes ideas and recommendations to capitalize on the cemetery as a valuable community open space and provide recommendations to fund its deferred maintenance and perpetual care.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Cemetery is still closed to the public as crews document and cleanup damage from the September 2020 windstorm. Given the historic nature of the location, this process takes much longer than it does at other city parks. 
Memory Grove
Sidewalk Construction

A small area of Memory Grove Park will be closed off from December 2nd until January 15th. Our Parks Division is constructing a sidewalk from Memory Grove Park to the Austin Stairs. This sidewalk will improve access to the off-leash dog area and the stairs that go up to A Street.
ILLUMINATE
Salt Lake City

Throughout the month of November, ILLUMINATE 2020 presented three large-scale projection works of art, including one at the City & County Building located within Washington Square.

"These works exemplify the power of creativity when bringing together light art and technology."

Viewers could safely observe from a distance as the City and County Building was illuminated with breathtaking lights and shapes.

It was exciting to see one of our parks host an event like this, especially in a year when the pandemic eliminated nearly all of the traditional annual events in SLC.