Rocky's dream for Pioneer Park taken to people

The battle over renovations at Pioneer Park has pitted Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson against the City Council for years, and now the administration is taking its case to the people.

The city's public services department plans to hold an open house from 10 to 11:30 a.m. today about its three-stage plans for the downtown park, which has been home to protests, vagrants, farmers' markets, dog walkers and conventioneers for years. The department wants public support for the park's planned renovations — support it hopes will translate into political will.

"Public support drives political support," said Rick Graham, the city's director of public services. "We think there is a lot of interest there, and we're trying to stimulate that interest and make it known to the political leaders that yes, there is some value here."

Graham and Anderson repeatedly have asked for money for the park's planned $4.7 million renovation, which they hope eventually will include a dog park, center lawn, cafe, bell tower, historic gardens and volleyball courts, among other features. Anderson plugged the park in his State of the City address in January, saying the city needed green space downtown to improve quality of life and adjacent private development.

"Pioneer Park, the underdeveloped green space in the Central Business district, is a jewel waiting to be polished, embraced and recognized for the potential it has to be an outstanding, safe, welcoming urban gathering place for everyone, including families," Anderson said in his speech. "With adequate funding, the plan will guide the transformation of Pioneer Park into an urban treasure that will meet the current and future needs of the rapidly growing population of the Rio Grande business and residential community, as well as people from throughout the city who will be attracted to the park once it is renovated."

Anderson will speak at today's open house. Graham's department also will show historical photos of the park and drawings of the proposed renovations in three stages.

Earlier this year, the City Council offered $600,000 from its capital-

improvement fund for preliminary plans. That appropriation and a $496,000 grant from the federal government are paying for stage-one renovations to be completed by spring 2007. Updated perimeter sidewalks, a wider promenade to host the summer farmers' markets, corner entry plazas, a dog park and bike racks all are planned for the first stage.