Connecting people through nature and our waterways

South Salt Lake

City Size: 6.9 square miles [01]
Population Count (2020): 27,894

Creeks: Mill Creek
Total Stream Length: 3.1 miles [02]
Buried: 0.4 miles [03]
Impaired: 2.7 miles [04]

Diversity Index* (2020): 71 [05]
Housing Affordability Index** (2020): 106 [06]

 

South Salt Lake is the smallest city, in terms of population [01]. In the 1930s, residents needed a sewer system in their neighborhood. When adjacent cities would not provide service, they started their own utility and added other municipal services. South Salt Lake has grown from a single-family suburban-style neighborhood to a burgeoning streetcar urban village. However, much of the city remains commercial and industrial and in need of more parks and open space.

In South Salt Lake, Mill Creek flows through an urbanized channel—much of it straightened and the banks concrete and rip-rap. East of 500 East, Mill Creek is dammed in a large pond that provides flood control and habitat value. The Mill Creek Trail creates an east-west connection between Fitts Park and 300 East and between the Utah Transit Authority’s Millcreek Station and the Jordan River Trail.

 Opportunity Areas

Opportunity Areas
11. 3300 South 700 East
11. 3300 South 700 East

During redevelopment of the shopping center, daylight Mill Creek, add a trail connection, and create a public amenity.

Category: 10-Year
City: South Salt Lake
Creek: Mill

12. Fitts Park
12. Fitts Park

Improve water quality through green infrastructure, restore riparian habitat and the floodplain, and enhance recreation along Mill Creek in the park.

Category: 10-Year
City: South Salt Lake
Creek: Mill

13. 200 East to 200 West
13. 200 East to 200 West

Create a linear urban park along Mill Creek with trails, natural space, amenities, public art, and signage.

Category: 10-Year
City: South Salt Lake
Creek: Mill

14. Interstate-15 Crossing
14. Interstate-15 Crossing

Create a pedestrian crossing over Interstate-15 along Mill Creek to connect recreational access and east-west communities.

Category: 100-Year
City: South Salt Lake
Creek: Mill

15. Mill Creek Confluence
15. Mill Creek Confluence

Restore riparian habitat, improve water quality through wetlands, and provide recreation connections to the Jordan River Trail.

Category: 10-Year
City: South Salt Lake
Creek: Mill

Asset 12-100.jpg

Sources

  1. Esri, Forecasts for 2020 and 2025 with converted Census 2000 data into 2010 geography (2021).

  2. Salt Lake County, Stream Care Guide (2014).

  3. Seven Canyons Trust, Creek Channel Alignment Data (2018).

  4. Utah Division of Water Quality, Beneficial Uses and Water Quality Assessment Map (2016).

*Likelihood two persons chosen at random belong to different race or ethnic groups, ranging from 0 (no diversity) to 100 (complete diversity).

**Ratio of median household income to median home value. A value of 100 means a typical family has exactly enough income to quality for a mortgage on a typical home. Above 100, the typical family earns more than enough and, below 100, they do not earn enough.