For this week’s chatter, City Cast Salt Lake readers shared what they notice, love, and wish parks across the valley did better. So we paired their comments with data from our parks project, where we visited all 511 parks in Salt Lake County, to add a little context to their feedback.
Family-Friendly Amenities
“I have a 5-year-old, the playground is VERY important to a good park. He would say swings are the most important, and I agree. Swings are something you can do together! For the parents, good shade coverage is a must, too. Two parks that do both of those well are Draper City Park and Union Park in Midvale!” — El G.
Only 3% of Salt Lake County parks have all five family-friendly amenities: bathrooms, a playground, a splash pad, picnic tables, and water fountains.
Park Bathrooms
“Bathrooms! I’m training my kids to bring up bathrooms at every public engagement event they attend for the foreseeable future.” — @johnnaeshines
Currently, 69% of parks don’t have year-round bathroom access. But Salt Lake City set money aside from the $85 million parks bond to go toward bathroom upgrades in big parks like Fairmont, Glendale, Pioneer, and Liberty.
What’s Up With Pioneer Park?
“What's up with the construction at the park near The Gateway?” — @fitznfaith0
Pioneer Park is undergoing a major makeover to add new amenities like playgrounds, sports courts, a dog park, and updated infrastructure for year-round use. The $18 million project is expected to be completed by late 2026.
Thank you to Tracy Aviary for supporting our parks project. Spring is an ideal time to visit Tracy Aviary. The season doesn’t just arrive; it hatches. Discover what’s taking flight this spring!
