Pioneer Park plan gains nod
Development would be done in 3 phases
Specific details of what the park might eventually include — whether there would be a skating rink, a dog park and a boccie court or what these would look like — were not decided. But the commission did approve the findings of Salt Lake City's planning staff that "the proposed new buildings and features would be compatible with the scale and character of the park."
As currently envisioned, the park would be developed in three stages. The second and third phases — the latter of which includes an Olympic-size skating rink and an artistic water screen — raised some objections from commissioners and several people who spoke during Wednesday's public hearing.
Gary Porter, representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the Church supports the first phase but has "less enthusiasm for phases two and three because of operating costs."
Tim Funk of the Crossroads Urban Center urged the commission to have the city prove the financial feasibility of phases two and three before they are approved.
An effort by commission member Oktai Parvaz to restrict the commission's approval just to phase one failed. The commission approved the conceptual plan for all three phases, with the caveat that each phase must come back before the commission for approval. They also stipulated that any excavation would include an archaeological survey and that the fate of any artifacts found would be decided jointly by the city and state.
It is up to the City Council to decide whether to fund the park's redevelopment.
The 10-acre park, between 300 and 400 South and from 300 to 400 West, was originally not a park but a pioneer fort that no longer exists. And parks themselves are more "ephemeral" than typical historic landmarks, noted city planning programs supervisor Elizabeth Giraud. That makes figuring out how best to preserve the historic nature of Pioneer Park more confusing than other sites.
About 30 separate "stakeholders" — representing interests ranging from the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers to area dog owners — provided input to the planning process. The result is a plan that includes history "rooms" on the park's four corners, a history walk and a historic bell tower, as well as boccie courts, space for the Farmer's Market, a cafe, a "great lawn" and a fenced dog park.
The key to success of the park and of the surrounding community, said city preservation planner Nelson Knight, is for the park to be "activity based."
"That's what will turn this park around, getting people there," he said.
The plan was proposed by the Department of Public Services and designed by Design Workshop.
"Every effort has been made in the design to preserve as many trees as possible," said Nancy Monteith of Design Workshop.
In addition, 115 new trees would be planted.
E-mail: jarvik@desnews.com
You can be the first to comment on this story.