Jordan River Trail

The following is an op-ed I authored with Sandy Councilmember and Jordan River Commission Vice-Chair Chris McCandless regarding the Jordan River Parkway:


Salt Lake County voters have the opportunity to leverage four decades of investments by
the county and local governments in high quality parks, recreation, and open space for
current and future generations by voting in favor of Proposition#1, Salt Lake County’s
proposed regional parks and trails bond. The approval of the Salt Lake County parks and
trails bond will allow long-awaited completion of the Jordan River Parkway Trail.
Community leaders recognized the potential of the Jordan River corridor in a planning
document published in 1971 called, A Jordan River Parkway - An Alternative. This report
outlined an ambitious vision for the river corridor including parks, natural open space
and a trail connecting Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake. The idea caught the attention
of many in the community. In response, the State Legislature created the Provo-Jordan
River Parkway Authority and appropriated funds for the acquisition of property needed to
begin implementation of this vision. By the early 1990s, the first segments of the Jordan
River Parkway Trail were constructed, and today less than 3.5 miles of the lake-to-lake
trail remain incomplete.

The 45-mile Jordan River Parkway Trail is used regularly by commuters, children
traveling to school and by countless others for recreation, personal rejuvenation and a
break from the hustle and bustle of city life. The trail is just one of the amenities found
in the river corridor. Others include a number of developed parks, playgrounds, golf
courses, natural open space preserves, educational centers, urban fisheries and wildlife
viewing areas.

Since that initial report in the 1970s, countless hours, enormous effort and significant
resources have been invested into the idea of a parkway along the Jordan River. In 2008,
a renewed vision for the river corridor was expressed in a document called, Blueprint
Jordan River. Led by Envision Utah, this process involved thousands of Wasatch Front
residents and resulted in a new plan for the river corridor, including enhanced recreation,
open-space preservation, community development, transportation connections, river
restoration, water quality improvements and environmental education. Participants
recognized that a restored and enhanced river corridor could attract new businesses and
investments to the Wasatch Front, and would improve the quality of life for those already
here.

The river and trail connect us all together as they cross through three different counties
and fifteen cities. Each of the individual parks, trail segments and fishing ponds along
the river contribute to the livability of our communities. However, maximizing the full
potential of the Jordan River corridor depends on the belief that the sum is greater than
its parts. We must work together to complete the trail, to set aside open space for wildlife
and parks, and to embrace the Jordan River in our community design. The benefits will
be better personal health, enhanced water and air quality and an unparalleled recreational
resource for us all. Finishing the Jordan River Parkway Trail is the next step towards
realizing the full potential of the Jordan River corridor.

The Jordan River Commission, with its membership of state, counties, and cities along
with business and non-profit partners, recognizes the opportunity that Salt Lake County
voters have to take advantage of the current low financing costs and construction rates to
complete this last segment of the Jordan River Trail through leveraging and maximizing
the past public investments. Please help ensure that Wasatch Front residents will have
high quality recreational, transportation, and environmental opportunities for generations to come.

Councilman Corey Rushton, Jordan River Commission Chairman
Councilman Chris McCandless, Jordan River Commission Vice Chair