Planners back Pioneer Park design

In a positive development for Mayor Rocky Anderson's push to redevelop Pioneer Park, Salt Lake City's planning staff has recommended that the Historic Landmarks Commission approve the conceptual park design plans.

The commission will convene a public hearing Wednesday to review those plans, developed by Park City-based Design Workshop. Following that hearing, the commission will likely vote to approve or reject the plans; however, it could put off a vote until a later date.

Deseret Morning News graphic Pioneer Park design Requires Adobe Acrobat.

If approved, the concepts would be further developed into concrete plans, which would also need commission approval.

That approval would then leave the City Council with the final say about whether they will fund the park's redevelopment, which Anderson campaigned on during his successful re-election bid last month.

The planning staff report found that the initial design addresses the multiple objectives of the 28 community "stakeholders" who provided public input to the plans, without "negatively impacting the historical integrity and character of the park."

According to the designs, the park redevelopment would come in phases, with a skating rink planned in the second phase. The first phase includes plans for a bell tower commemorating the park's original "bell post," which held a bell once used in the LDS temple at Nauvoo, Ill. LDS pioneers brought the bell to Salt Lake City and made the park a sort of gathering place for newcomers to the city.

The plans also include bocci courts, a dog run, basketball and volleyball courts, running paths and many other amenities.

Many council members, like Jill Remington Love, remain leery about spending money on remodeling the park, which some say is in good condition compared to the city's other parks.

"If you look at the infrastructure of it, it is one of our nicest parks," councilman Dave Buhler said. "But I'm willing to take a look at it."

Like Buhler, other council members say they will consider plans and requests for funding park reconstruction but are unsure if they will give Anderson the money he needs to build his dream.

"We should definitely take a long look at Pioneer Park and we should do something," he said. "Is that extensive, is that minor or is that something else, I don't know."

Some council members think improved programming at the park, which is near the city's homeless shelter and soup kitchens, could improve the park's image more than an expensive redevelopment.

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E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com