The future of the Jordan River corridor in South Salt Lake City could be significantly brighter, thanks to an initiative called the Central Jordan River Reconnect plan which is currently under development. This five-city/Salt Lake County effort aims to transform 7 miles of the river into a cohesive regional park, addressing decades of environmental degradation while improving public access and safety.

The proposed regional park will span five municipalities—South Salt Lake, Millcreek, Murray, West Valley and Taylorsville—and incorporate the restoration of three vital tributaries: Little Cottonwood Creek, Big Cottonwood Creek and Mill Creek.

On Dec. 4, the South Salt Lake Planning Commission received an overview of the Reconnect Plan's current status from Angelo Calacino of Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation and consultant Brandon Beerman of Port, a landscape architecture and planning firm.

South Salt Lake's segment, covering 3.76 miles of river frontage (between SR-201 and 5400 South), is central to the project, particularly due to the location of the Mill Creek confluence, which Beerman identified as one of the most significant environmental focus areas.

Restoring the Mill Creek Confluence

Mill Creek flows into the Jordan River within South Salt Lake, and the confluence has suffered degradation from historic development. The Reconnect project aims to build upon preliminary work by partners like the Jordan River Commission and the Seven Canyons Trust to revitalize this spot.

A primary goal in South Salt Lake is to address water quality and habitat at the confluence. A key challenge is the Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility, which discharges a large volume of treated wastewater into Mill Creek just upstream. Though treated, this water carries a high phosphorus count, which is a known contributor to downstream algae blooms.

To combat this, plans for an 8-acre public parcel at the confluence include restoring its ecology through the construction of wetlands which would be designed to naturally filter water and treat impurities before the creek's flow fully merges with the Jordan River.

Connecting Assets and Community Priorities

While the city's portion of the corridor already includes open spaces like the Meadowbrook Natural Area and neighborhood parks, the Reconnect plan seeks to make them more cohesive and better connected for residents.

A crucial step in the planning is identifying existing assets and, "the different programs that exist there so we can start to understand where some of the gaps are from our conversations with the public and with the stakeholders and start to be able to build upon that," Beerman said.

For the last several months, the consultants have been gathering feedback from city/county officials and the public. 

“Interactive boards that came from our site analysis work[ed] to really ensure that we were engaging the community and starting to understand how folks use the Jordan River, what they think would make it more improved and more useful for them,” Beerman said.

The public input highlighted three key priorities for the corridor:

Improved Access and Connectivity: Despite the existing Jordan River Parkway Trail, there is a clear need for better east-west connections to link surrounding neighborhoods directly to the river, Beerman said. The plan will explore improving trails and trailheads, including potential enhancement at the Carlisle Street Trailhead Park.

Safety and Maintenance: A major focus will be placed on improving safety and visibility along the corridor through better coordinated management and maintenance. It is anticipated that increased use of the trail and new park spaces will naturally enhance public safety.

New Destinations: The plan aims to establish destination park features. These could include improved water access for recreational activities like kayaking, as well as new passive recreation areas, natural playgrounds and enhanced ecological viewing spots. These features are designed to provide South Salt Lake residents with attractive, high-quality open space close to home, Beerman said.

The project is currently in the planning and alternative design phases. The success of this undertaking relies heavily on coordination among the affected communities and securing necessary federal and state funding for flood control and environmental work, which promises to have a substantial positive impact on South Salt Lake City, Beerman said.