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Marc Giauque reportingWhat do you picture when you think of Salt Lake's Pioneer Park? An effort is underway to get you to re-think the historic, but troubled downtown park.
A postcard inviting people to a weekend open-house shows a man in a business suit, sitting at the foot of a tree, working on his laptop, a sack-lunch next to him. In the back-ground a woman is pushing a baby stroller. A dramatic difference from what many may think.
"This will never happen."
This downtown worker steers clear.
"I would never take my kids there...ever...in a million years."
But there are those who believe it could happen a lot sooner than that.
Ken Milo: "Not quite yet but I'd say within the next two or three years."
Ken Milo has and is developing properties around the park.
Ken Milo: "As we build buildings and others build buildings and more and more people live around the park then people will take ownership of the park. It will be the best place to live downtown."
In fact, Milo says his latest proposed development - a high-end housing project - is already sold out. He envisions an urban park, complete with some of what's already there.
Ken Milo: "There's twenty people in the middle of the park that are homeless people but not criminals largely. You know frankly I think they have the right to be in the city."
The mayor's office wants the city council to approve more money for changes at the park. Economic Development Director Allison McFarlane says it can and has been done elsewhere. She says one key, is programming the park.
Allison McFarlane, Economic Development Director: "I think the model that you see is on Saturday mornings during the Farmer's Market. That park is an exciting place to be. It feels very urban, there's lots of people coming from all around the area."