Salt Lake City presents plans for $20 million renovation of Pioneer Park

New $20 million revision plan of Pioneer Park. Photo: Salt Lake City Government.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Park’s Department is putting together the final touches for a $20 million renovation of Pioneer Park.

Over this last week, the new plans were pitched to the Salt Lake City Council, the concepts of which were developed and created by city staffers and a Salt Lake City-based design workshop. This includes a new grove of trees, reshaped walkways, improved lighting, a pavilion and several sports facilities. It would also feature a new playground, two new transit stations, a drought-sensitive water misting feature and more space for the Downtown Farmers Market.

The new improvement plan comes in response to a series of surveys conducted citywide which have consistently favored making improvements, the latest of which revealed that half of the participants are either extremely or somewhat dissatisfied with the park in its current state.

In addition to all the new amenities, the park’s security would also be improved, with increased staffing and specific designs in order to provide for more open lines of sight to improve safety.

As the revisions continue picking up steam, the Pioneer Park Coalition is seeking an additional $15 million for the park from the Utah Legislature, the likes of which has received somewhat of a mixed reaction from state lawmakers. However, there is an idea that any money allocated would be matched by the surrounding business owners.

While the proposed plans have certainly received a lot of attention and appear to be gaining traction, council members first want to balance out their budgetary needs at other city parks such as Allen and Glendale Park before committing to any renovation of Pioneer.