Salt Lake City Public Lands has been presented with the opportunity to redevelop the former Raging Waters/Seven Peaks water park site to better serve the community by providing needed park space and amenities. The water park, defunct and in a state of decay, has no prospective operators and it has become unfeasible to revitalize the once-loved space. Public Lands needs to fulfill a directive, established by the site funding requirements of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, to provide publicly accessible outdoor recreation to the community by 2024.
Images of the former water park slides, neglected and covered in graffiti.
An aerial image of the former water park slides.
The run down slide pools are covered in graffiti.
The empty former lazy river with graffiti.
Concrete pylons that supported the slides now dot the hillside.
A picture of the empty former wave pool.
The future park site is filled with hazards and broken water park features.
The chance to develop the park is significant for several reasons. The Salt Lake City Public Land’s Master Plan identifies a need for investment in Westside parks and enhancing park spaces along the Jordan River. The park will provide a needed amenity for the Westside with features that celebrate the neighborhood and preserve community culture and diversity.
Hand sketched images show the project context including the watershed scale with the Jordan River and Great Salt Lake, the City scale with the neighborhood in the middle of the freeway systems, and the neighborhood scale with nearby parks and the Glendale Golf Course.
Glendale Regional Park Site Context - Watershed: Jordan River Watershed, City-Regional: Surrounded by industrial areas, Neighborhood: Sited between the Glendale neighborhood and other Public Lands' Park and Open Spaces.
The park also presents an opportunity to increase access to water recreation and improve essential riparian habitat along the Jordan River. In addition, the park will enhance regional connectivity by creating a key recreation destination along the Jordan River Parkway Trail along with the nearby Glendale Golf Course, 1700 S Park and Glendale Neighborhood Park.
A map of the Glendale neighborhood highlights Glendale Regional Park and the nearby Glendale Golf Course, Glendale Neighborhood Park, 1700 South River Park, the Jordan River Parkway and other parks to the north of the project site.
The future park site is ideally situated between the Glendale Golf Course, Glendale Neighborhood Park, 1700 South River Park and the Jordan River Parkway.
Goals for the new park include creating a safe, active and communal space that embodies natural elements of the Jordan River and provides new opportunities for recreation, activities and events. The Glendale Regional Park Master Plan, available on the project website, shares the planning process, research and analysis, community engagement and resulting recommendations to achieve these goals. Scroll down to see plans for the future park!
Park Renderings
Glendale Regional Park Before and After
Swipe back and forth to view Glendale Regional Park "before" and "after."
Bright & Colorful
Bright playground, plaza spaces and pavilions feature art, lighting and styles both reminiscent of the former water park and reflecting the cultures of the local community. The playground is filled with features for all abilities and all ages to enjoy - even adults!
A rendering of a bright, vibrant and shaded playground with may people of all ages playing, and play features for people of all abilities.
Community Arts, Food & Activities
The community plaza is a brightly lit, vibrant promenade that hosts events and festivals as well as food trucks, market booths and community-led activities. The park is a hub for sharing local food, art and culture with family, friends and neighbors.
The many picnic areas, pavilions and event lawns offer opportunities for local performances, family gatherings and community classes.
A rendering of a colorful, brightly lit plaza. The plaza is filled with people enjoying food trucks and an interactive water play feature.
Hilltop Views & Sledding
A circuit of multi-use trails lead to a hilltop overlook, offering views of the city, mountains and vibrant Salt Lake sunsets. The hill creates opportunities for seasonal sledding and year-round hiking or biking.
A rendering of the park hill during winter that shows people sledding, hiking, and building a snowman. Views of the Wasatch mountains are off in the distance.
Access to Nature
Nature can be explored along the restored riparian landscapes of the Jordan River. A kayak rental station and enhanced access to the Jordan River creates a gateway to paddling adventures.
Restoration and planting improves the local environment, creating an urban oasis that shades the park with newly planted trees, restores riverside habitat, and blankets the park with a garden of native and climate resilient plants.
Park Tour
Continue scrolling to take a tour of Glendale Regional Park.
A rendering of the proposed park plan that shows many activities, park features, and greenspace.
Overview of Glendale Regional Park. See numbered items by scrolling down below.
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1. Trail Connector
A circuit of multi-use trails for
hiking and biking will run throughout the park, leading to the hilltop, the
river and connections to adjacent parks.
2. Picnic Lawn
The picnic lawn will provide space
for gathering, relaxing and play.
3. All Ages & Abilities Playground
A bright, colorful playground will
be accessible to all abilities and all ages, even adults!
4. Shade Pavilion
A pavilion will provide places for
gathering, family celebrations and shaded relief from the hot afternoon sun.
5. Full-Court Basketball Court
A new basketball court will fill a
gap in park amenities and provide full-court outdoor play.
6. Ice and Roller Skating Ribbon
The previous lazy river will be
repurposed as a skating ribbon, hosting ice skating in the winter and roller
skating in the summer.
7. Kid's Climbing Feature
A climbing feature for youth will
sit in the center of the new skating ribbon.
8. All-Ages Climbing Feature
Climbing that caters to all ages,
such as a bouldering feature, will provide climbing opportunities for all
levels of experience.
9. Community Pavilion
A large pavilion will provide a
shaded space for community gatherings and events. The pavilion will also present opportunities for vendors, such as skate rentals, and be connected to restrooms.
10. Community Plaza / Promenade
The community plaza is a brightly
lit, vibrant promenade that hosts events and festivals as well as food trucks, market booths and community-led activities.
11. Parking Lot
Parking will be located at the main
entrance to the park, buffering the park from traffic along 1700 South.
12. Sledding and Hiking Hill
The hill creates opportunities
for seasonal sledding and year-round hiking or biking. A trip to the hilltop overlook offers views of the city, mountains and vibrant Salt Lake sunsets.
13. ADA Accessible Multi-use Trail
An ADA accessible, multi-use trail
will ensure that people of all abilities can enjoy views of the city from the
top of the hill.
14. Hilltop Overlook
A plaza or overlook tower will
create spaces to sit, relax and enjoy views of the city.
15. Skate Boarding Area
Pools from the former water park
will be repurposed into skateboarding bowls and features.
16. Water Play Feature
A bright and colorful water feature
located on the plaza will create a place to splash, play and cool down in the
hot summer sun.
17. Outdoor Pool
The outdoor pool will create a
community space to swim, take lessons and gather with friends and family.
18. Flex Lawn and Performance Space
The flex lawn is a multi-use space
that can host many activities from tossing a frisbee to small community events and performances.
19. Flex Stage/ Plaza
The flex stage will accommodate
small community events and performances and serve as a plaza for daily use.
20. Bridge Connection
A bridge will connect the park
directly to the Jordan River Parkway Trail, creating a direct entrance from the south end of the park.
21. Dog Park
A fenced in dog park will create an
off-leash space to play and exercise will furry friends.
22. Picnic Areas
Shaded picnic areas near the river
will create space to relax and enjoy the surrounding riparian nature.
23. Riparian Restoration
Areas near the river will be
restored with native riparian plants such as cottonwoods, golden currants and milkweed.
24. Boardwalk
A boardwalk will wander through
natural riparian areas and provide views of the Jordan River.
25. Riverside Beach & Volleyball
The riverside beach offers a chance
to enjoy views of the Jordan River while playing in the sand with activities from relaxing on the beach to a game of volleyball.
26. Kayak Rental Station
A kayak rental station near the boat ramp will create new opportunities for water recreation along the Jordan River.
27. River Access
Enhanced river access will create a launching
spot and a place to look out over the river.
28. Boat Ramp
The boat ramp will create a space to bring a canoe or kayak directly down to the water.
29. Boat Dropoff
1.
A drop off area will allow vehicles to drop off canoes and kayaks at the boat ramp.
30. Pickleball Court
Pickleball courts, located just west of the tennis courts in Glendale Neighborhood Park, will create new places to play this popular sport.
Park Goals
An image of a Glendale middle school student participating in an engagement activity. She is building a scene of what the park could look like using various art supplies and objects.
Community-Led
The vision is community-led and reflects Glendale’s culture and history. The park will offer space for social connections, features, and services that interest the Westside community.
An example image of a park community plaza during an event.
Community Services & Programming
The park provides equitable access to nature and outdoor recreation. The community can enjoy free and affordable classes, events, and entertainment at the neighborhood’s central park.
An image of a mom and child playing in a playground.
Park Activation & Safety
The park is a dynamic destination activated by daily use. What happens in the park is an organic expression of Westside culture. Local community members, organizations, and businesses together will create a safe and welcoming environment.
An image of people riding bikes on a gravel pathway.
Regional Connection
The park is a regional destination combining and connecting to multiple neighboring parks. As a gathering place along the Jordan River, the park serves as a recreational gateway between Westside and the larger park systems.
An image of people sitting near a river on a rock with a bridge in the background.
Access to Nature
The park is a space to build a meaningful relationship with nature. Attractive and accessible features and free recreational activities provided in the neighborhood’s backyard will combat Nature Deficit Disorder in the community.
An image of a park bridge which spans a creek and riparian plants near the creek edge.
Environmental Quality
The park builds upon existing natural assets and enhances the ecological health of the Westside. Features of the park will work to improve the Jordan River’s water quality and Salt Lake City’s air pollution for the community.
An image of an outdoor nature class being held in a small park pavilion.
Environmental Justice
The park celebrates the Jordan River, integral to the community’s identity, and enhances local environmental quality. The community-led vision will prioritize the quality of life for the Glendale neighborhood and Westside community.
Glendale Regional Park Site Context - Watershed: Jordan River Watershed, City-Regional: Surrounded by industrial areas, Neighborhood: Sited between the Glendale neighborhood and other Public Lands' Park and Open Spaces.
The future park site is ideally situated between the Glendale Golf Course, Glendale Neighborhood Park, 1700 South River Park and the Jordan River Parkway.
Swipe back and forth to view Glendale Regional Park "before" and "after."
Overview of Glendale Regional Park. See numbered items by scrolling down below.
