Vision

The Seven Greenways

City Creek
Red Butte Creek
Emigration Creek
Parleys Creek
Mill Creek
Big Cottonwood Creek
Little Cottonwood Creek

The Places

Cottonwood Heights
Holladay
Midvale
Millcreek
Murray
Sandy
Salt Lake City
South Salt Lake

Mission

Inspiring a common vision, over the next 100 years, to revitalize our waterways, connecting people through greenways in the Salt Lake Valley.

Rediscovery and exploration lie before our residents, visitors, and partners along the Wasatch Front. The Seven Greenways Vision Plan will set in motion a community-supported framework. The Salt Lake Valley is facing an exciting future—a connected system of greenways that celebrate our waterways. We believe this resonates with virtually every person who lives, works, or visits our beautiful Valley. As Salt Lake County’s population grows an additional 600,000 people by 2065, this vision is increasingly critical to the protection and enhancement of our creeks. Revitalizing the greenways protects critical riparian habitat, preserves green and open spaces, and provides recreational and community benefits to this growing population.

The Seven Greenways Vision Plan represents hope, expressing how a vision over generations is brought to reality. This century-long vision will only be achieved through collaboration and collective will from elected officials, stakeholders, and community members, alike. The plan focuses on the sections of creek flowing from each canyon’s mouth to their confluence with the Jordan River. It addresses our desire to mitigate climate change and environmental injustices (poor water and air quality, drought, and the urban heat island effect) and requires a collective response and articulated message of benefits. This includes the revitalization of streams, enhanced bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, catalyzed economic activity, increased climate resiliency, improved wildlife habitat, providing places for people to experience nature, and opportunities to learn about and enjoy water in our oasis on desert’s edge.

Core Elements

Case Studies

Process

Phase 01. Existing Conditions
(Fall ‘20 — Winter ‘20)

The historic and current conditions create the foundation for the Seven Greenways Vision Plan. Maps highlight creek corridors, water quality, ecology, land use, and recreation. Consensus on project goals was gained, and we identified data gaps and key opportunities. The Existing Conditions Report is a technical resource for governments to perpetuate the plan.

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Phase 02. Community Visioning
(Winter ‘20 — Summer ‘21)

Public and stakeholder engagement provides the structure for the Seven Greenways Vision Plan. Inclusive methods and COVID-19 (Coronavirus) considerations helped reach underrepresented populations and ensured everyone’s safety in participating. A survey, pop-up and online workshops, and draft plan review identified priorities, opportunity areas, recommendations, and creative solutions. The Engagement Summary Report forms the framework of the vision.

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Phase 03. Seven Greenways Vision Plan
(Summer ‘21 — Winter ‘21)

The final Seven Greenways Vision Plan highlights areas of opportunity in each of the seven greenways, recommends best management practices, possible policies for implementation, and includes a toolbox of design concepts and guidelines. The document is organized into four chapters:

1. Introduction - A summary of the plan document. It explores the seven creeks and cities in which they flow through.

2. Core Elements - An introduction our five core elements: water, nature, community, recreation, and urban. It summarizes the existing conditions of the seven greenways and serves as a guide for the vision.

3. Vision - An outline of goals, opportunity areas, and big ideas for each core element. It illustrates possibilities when applying goals in a significant, transformational way.

4. Toolbox - A guide to implementation of the seven greenways with design guidelines, best management practices, policies, funding, and partnerships.

Workshops with Salt Lake County and each municipality will prepare partners for implementation and to pursue projects.