From Deseret News archives:
Salt Lake City Council votes to extend Pioneer Park hours
The Salt Lake City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the downtown park's hours to 11 p.m. between May 1 and Sept. 30, allowing for public events in the evenings.
Council members and city staff are counting on an increased effort to deter illegal activities namely the buying and selling of drugs that have been known to occur at and around the park.
"I think it creates more opportunities at the park," Councilman Carlton Christensen said of the extended hours. "That neighborhood is evolving in a good way."
The city in recent years has added about $1.5 million in improvements to Pioneer Park, including irrigation and electrical upgrades, new sidewalks, walking and jogging paths, removal of old trees and planting of new ones and the installation of a fenced dog park.
Concerns about public safety and illegal activity at the park led the city in the mid-1990s to close the park daily from 30 minutes after sundown until 7 a.m.
Christian Harrison, president and chairman of the Downtown Community Council, asked the City Council to reconsider making such a drastic change to the park's hours.
"I ask you to please do what we asked and not to interject any extra zeal," he said.
Harrison worries that the park remaining open when events are not scheduled will encourage the wrong type of activities and traffic there.
"Right now, a great tide of people leave the park at dusk," he said. "It's like a sci-fi movie. It's delightful. ... I can walk around the park (after dark) with almost no fear."
Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank suggested the seasonal extension rather than a event-based one, saying inconsistent park hours could be confusing to the public and make it more difficult to police.
City officials cite the success of Downtown Farmer's Market on Saturdays as an example of how programming can keep the park populated and active.
In other city business Tuesday:
• The City Council is shuffling funds in the 2008-09 fiscal year budget to maintain fire operations at station No. 5, 1023 E. 900 South.
Mayor Ralph Becker's budget proposes to devote the station exclusively to emergency medical responses, saving about $470,000. It also would allow the station to be utilized as the city's Community Emergency Response Team headquarters.
Comments
- I-84 crash closes lanes in Canyon 12:01 p.m.
- Prosecutors have Cardall report 11:58 a.m.
- Stocks jump to new highs 11:56 a.m.
- Gulf Coast preps as Ida weakens 11:50 a.m.
- Imam praises Ft. Hood shooter 11:47 a.m.
- High court won't stop execution 11:46 a.m.
- USU Press merges with library 11:20 a.m.
- GOP blasts Matheson after vote 11:19 a.m.
- Utah Jazz: Miles has cast removed 11:18 a.m.
- Ten Steps to a 30-minute garden 10:56 a.m.
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Hope for single moms
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
- TCU moves into 4th place in BCS
- Teenager is critical after stabbing
- Water wars in Snake Valley
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
233 - House passes health care bill
210 - Lobo suspended
176 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
153 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
130 - TCU showdown has big implications
122 - Thousands protest health bill
104 - Provo company innovating engines
104 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
35% of the Utah population is about 960,000 people. Looks like that's more...
Why the growing jobeless rate?, because they say the dollar is now worthless....
"Premarital abstinence helps keep our children healthy both physically and...
Too expensive! We cannot afford this. It will permanently stifle the...
Ever been on the freeway between 6:30-7:00 am and seen the Salt Lake City...
As a Latter-Day Saint I am please that the Gay community wants...
Go RSL! Put out the Fire!
If you can't back up your claims with facts, you shouldn't make them. That...
I think what Matheson is trying to do is get both parties to agree on parts...
The on-side kick comment was not about this years WYO-UTAH game (which was...


You can be the first to comment on this story.