Fast forward 35 years. What will define Utah's capital city? What's the "big picture?"

After a lengthy visioning process that has involved the best thinking of community leaders, average citizens and planning and architectural experts, the Salt Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance has released a bold, forward-thinking blueprint to help sculpt the Salt Lake City of tomorrow.

The Downtown Rising plan envisions the designation of six "character districts" and the development of eight priority projects, including a sports and fitness center, a performing arts center, a public market and a global exchange place. Add to that a regional transportation network, a green loop, dynamic urban living and a distinctive University Boulevard that better integrates the University of Utah with the traditional downtown.

This "living plan," as described by Salt Lake Chamber President Lane Beattie, is an impressive road map toward a Salt Lake City that is liveable and prosperous for years to come. It needs to become part of Salt Lake City's and Salt Lake County's master planning processes.

Downtown Rising is unprecedented for the depth of the community involvement in the visioning process, which has included community events, questionnaires, e-mail participation and some 2.5 million visits to the Downtown Rising web site (www.downtownrising.com).

One of the products of this process has been the identification of six character districts in the core of Salt Lake's downtown, each with "distinctive character and soul," according to the Downtown Rising plan. For instance, Temple Square District is termed as "green, contemplative and at a slight remove from the material world." It centers around the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the church's office and educational facilities. (The LDS Church is the owner of the Deseret Morning News.)

Meanwhile, Broadway District would be the "epicenter for the arts, culture, entertainment and hospitality," according to Downtown Rising documents. Other districts include the Skyline District, the traditional business center; Gateway District, a residential, retail, dining, entertainment and transit hub; the Salt Palace District, which would serve visitors; and last, the Grand Boulevards District, which would transform the entry points to Salt Lake's downtown into green and hospitable gateways.

Seemingly, the only missing component of this blueprint is a long-range vision for services for Salt Lake's homeless. Presently, many services are clustered in the vicinity of Pioneer Park. As these districts evolve over the next few years, pressure could mount to relocate these services. These services, which include basic shelter, health care and mental health treatment, cannot be considered as expendable. Utahns have a societal obligation to help those in need, particularly as the community embarks on shaping its future.