 
The Glendale Community Council submitted the attached letter to the Salt Lake City Transportation Division Department of Community and Neighborhoods regarding a proposed redesign of the intersection at 900 West and California Avenue. We hosted an event on September 2nd, 2020 for residents to provide feedback for inclusion in the letter and the attached letter is an amalgamation of that feedback. We want to express our appreciation to the Salt Lake City Transportation Division for incorporating our feedback into the final design of the street.   Overview Raging Waters which has changed names to Raging Waters and later Seven Peaks is in a state of serious disrepair. Closed since 2018, the pools leak, much of the equipment is broken and unsafe, or no longer meet engineering codes. Vandalism and operator abandonment have created additional problems, such as fires, stripped electrical wiring, and equipment theft. The park’s condition leaves Salt Lake City wrestling with the difficult question of what to do next. The Glendale Community Council hosted an onsite visioning conversation on October 31, 2020. For those who missed the meeting, you can still participate. Here's how you can participate. Step 1: Review Our Draft Scenarios We've created some draft scenarios to illustrate all of the possibilities for the site. Please note, these are not fully formed ideas nor are they reflective of any solid plan for the site. Rather, we created them as a way of showcasing the many ideas that have been floated for the Raging Waters property. As you review them, we recommend that you ask yourself four questions: 1) Which of the scenarios is most cost-effective and financially feasible? You may define this in any way that you like. 2) Which of the scenarios is best for the many children and families in our neighborhood? 3) Which of the scenarios is most accessible to people with disabilities, seniors, and others who may have mobility challenges? 4) How can we preserve the history of the waterpark and build community identity? Step 2: Create Your Own Vision Now that you've considered the possibilities. We want to see your vision for the site! Download the visioning canvas linked below and draw your vision for the site. After you've drawn it, we would love to hear from you. Please send a picture of your site plan to Turner Bitton at chair@glendaleutah.org or text it to (801) 564-3860. As always, you can comment below with your ideas and vision as well. We're so grateful for your feedback and excited to see your ideas!
In this video:
- Elected Official Updates - 900 South Redesign Discussion - Kent Jorgenson - Salt Lake City Police Department Update - Detective Oliver - Community Events, Updates, and Open Discussion In this video:
- Elected Official Updates - Councilman Andrew Johnston, Representative Angela Romero, and Josh Rebollo (representing the mayor's office) - Salt Lake City Parks and Public Lands Program Master Plan - Salt Lake City Police Department Update - Detective Oliver - Raging Waters Update - Kyle Strayer, Salt Lake City Civic Engagement and JP Goates from Salt Lake City Real Estate Services - Community Events and Updates  As of June 26th, face coverings are now a requirement across Salt Lake County. Wearing a face covering correctly is one of the easiest things we can do to help our local businesses and neighbors successfully weather this challenging time.
In Salt Lake County, face coverings will be required: - At public gatherings, indoor or out, where consistent social distancing is not possible. - While waiting outside or inside retail and other public locations, including bars and restaurants until seated. Face coverings will not required: - Outdoors when social distancing is easily maintained. - On a person with a health condition exacerbated by a face covering. - On children under 2 years old. - When wearing a face covering would prevent the performance of the essential functions of a person’s job or work. - In circumstances not reasonably conducive to wearing a face covering, such as while swimming or engaging in strenuous physical activity. The goal of the requirement is not to penalize anyone; the goal is to send a strong, clear message about the gravity of our current COVID circumstances and the importance of face coverings in effectively addressing this concerning data. The Glendale Community Council is offering reusable, durable masks for residents. You can request yours by completing the following survey and a volunteer will drop a mask off at your doorstep with no contact required. These reusable masks can be sanitized and are durable to last a while. Supplies are limited. Completing the form is confidential and provides us with the information we need to deliver the masks. The Glendale Community Council is beginning a neighborhood wide planning project to develop a comprehensive visioning document for the neighborhood. Called the One Glendale Plan, this document will act as a strategic planning document for the community council and be used to provide a comprehensive outline for Salt Lake City to invest in the neighborhood.
Throughout the past several years, a variety of recurring issues have been brought to the community council’s attention. Taken individually, each of the issues appears unconnected. When viewed as part of a set of neighborhood wide problems, the issues can be connected to systemic issues that require a comprehensive plan. The development of new assets such as the Three Creeks Confluence and the deterioration of existing resources such as the Raging Waters property and Bend in the River presents new opportunities for developing neighborhood cohesion. In addition, regular issues tied to pedestrian access, safe routes to school, and the overall car-centric design of Glendale regularly present issues that affect neighborhood cohesion. In addition, residents regularly express interest in new assets such as pickleball courts, basketball facilities, improved park amenities, and more public artwork. Decisions about these assets are often zero sum with residents asked to choose between existing resources i.e. tennis courts being replaced by pickleball courts. Rather than choose between one or the other, we envision a process where resident-driven leadership identifies ways to add to existing amenities without removing the existing amenities. Through this process, we are proposing to undergo strategic visioning and activation activities that will unite the neighborhood and create a shared vision for the future of our neighborhood. We are committed to inclusion that intentionally reaches communities and neighbors who are often unrepresented in community planning activities. We're looking for Steering Committee members. Signup using the button below. If you have questions, please contact our Chairman Turner C. Bitton at chair@glendaleutah.org or 801-564-3860. The community council board of directors has finished our final report on the Bend in the River Urban Treehouse survey and have responded directly to the Trails & Natural Lands Division. Our final report is attached for your review. The community council requested that Salt Lake City delay removal of the Urban Treehouse until we had the opportunity to conduct a survey of our community. Our community has completed the survey, which was available for responses from May 1 – 15, 2020. We have included the data from the survey with this letter. The overwhelming majority of residents oppose removing the Urban Treehouse and as a result, the Glendale and Poplar Grove Community Councils formally requested that Salt Lake City not take any action to remove the Urban Treehouse at this time. We understand that the area is concerning to many residents, as was reflected in the survey results. As a result, the Glendale Community Council is beginning a formal community visioning process that we are calling the One Glendale Plan. During this visioning process, we will develop a comprehensive activation plan for the Bend in the River area and build consensus among residents for the future of the site.
Raging Waters has been a topic of intense interest for many of you. We asked Councilman Andrew Johnston to provide an update on the status of the park.
Here is what he provided: "The park was originally built between 1977-1980 using federal funds with the agreement that it would only be used for outdoor recreation going forward. The 20+ acres is zoned as open space restricting any other non-recreational development on the site. In 2019, a new operator was under contract to reopen the park but after further review of the facilities it was determined that the buildings, and other facilities, were in much worse condition than previously known and it would need at least $20 million to repair and make it operable. That agreement was voided as no funding was identified. As of May 2020, the former waterpark is still empty and there has been no operator identified to reopen the park. Over the past several months, we have had several fires in the park, and most recently, a high volume of people have broken into the premises. Salt Lake City Parks, Real Estate and the Mayor’s office have stated that they intend to request funding from the city council, within the next several weeks, to provide 24hr security at the park and we will need to fund further weed control. Moving forward, I would strongly advocate for a regional park with amenities that we do not have in other parks in the city. And keep it free, or deeply affordable for all local residents. I would love to keep a waterpark. However, a waterpark is very expensive, and I fear pricing local residents out of it if we were to go to a private operator who would need to recoup an investment. We could approach Salt Lake County, who already runs many regional parks across the county. The next round of county ZAP tax funding would not be voted on until 2024 and available in 2026 (I believe) if that funding were to be used for such a park. The Mayor’s office reports that they would like to get neighborhood feedback regarding what to do with the park going forward and I encouraged them to do so as soon as possible." |
Glendale
You may submit updates for publication to our Chair Turner Bitton at chair@glendaleutah.org. Archives
June 2021
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