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SALT LAKE CITY — A small park on Salt Lake City's west side that has struggled in recent years because of crime will likely not be relocated after all, as city leaders are now working to keep it in place and make improvements instead to provide much-needed green space for the swiftly changing North Temple corridor.
Salt Lake City council members are reviewing a possible amendment to the city's North Temple Boulevard General Plan that would keep Madsen Park at 9 N. Chicago Street within the city's growing Euclid neighborhood. The plan, which the city adopted in 2010, calls for the land to be sold and for the city to find a new location along 900 West to relocate the park.
But the document would be updated to say the city will find ways to "reimagine Madsen Park to increase park quality and use, and reflect the unique history and culture of the surrounding neighborhoods," under the amendment proposal council members are now considering. In addition, it calls for the city to "explore various funding sources" to "rebuild a vibrant park that encourages use and diverse activities."
Council members received a memo about a proposal on Tuesday and are tentatively slated to vote on the measure in November, following a public hearing that may also be held next month.
Members of the Salt Lake City Planning Commission previously voted to recommend the amendment, and Councilman Alejandro Puy, whose district includes the park, told KSL.com on Wednesday he believes the measure will pass the city council without an issue.
Salt Lake City's change in heart has everything to do with the North Temple corridor's rapid growth. Puy explains there were very few people living in the neighborhood at the time city leaders approved the master plan over a decade ago.
It didn't help that city leaders temporarily closed the park in 2021 over concerns about crime.
However, the corridor has gained several new apartment developments in recent years. There are also several more developments either under construction or in the pipeline, including in areas less than a block north of the park.
These are bringing hundreds of units to the neighborhood near the park, meaning there are many more people living there than when the plan was created over a decade ago. As Euclid evolves, city leaders now view the park as a valuable place for various outdoor activities.
"The area has changed a lot and it's continuing to change, so there's going to be a lot of needs," Puy said. "Literally, there are going to be thousands of new residents that are going to have pets, that are going to have kids, they're going to have families and they're going to need the open space."
The real turning point leading to the proposed amendment began about a year ago, he adds. He sought to direct capital improvement program funds to improve the park, but couldn't because of the language in the master plan. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Salt Lake City Public Lands initiated the formal text amendment in April to clear up the issue.
As the amendment is sorted out, city leaders are also looking into park improvements. Puy said he's heard residents talk about the desire to add a new gated area for dogs to run around and new playground equipment, while maintaining space for events and athletic activities as those conversations begin.
Any changes could be potentially funded through the city's capital improvement program or from its $85 million parks improvement bond that residents approved last year.
The only certainty right now appears to be that Madsen Park is here to stay.
"The park has seen more attention and love from the community — and more desire to be kept," Puy said. "This park is not going anywhere."
