Pioneer Park, downtown SLC’s oldest public space and home to the city’s farmers market, is under renovation as the city moves forward with a nearly $18 million investment aimed at transforming the park into a more active, accessible and family-friendly destination. After five years of discussion, the updates will address the park’s chronic issues, such as aging infrastructure, safety and sanitation, all aiming to improve the overall user experience. 

Goals of the project

According to the project background, in 2019, the Salt Lake City Council approved $3.44 million in impact fee funding for Pioneer Park. In August 2022, the council approved an additional $10 million. City leaders added $4.69 million to the park budget in August 2024 to help implement major portions of the Pioneer Park vision plan.

The proposed improvements include a new pavilion, updated basketball and pickleball courts, an accessible playground, a co-located restroom, a ranger office building, a promenade, a mist fountain plaza, more plants and a dog park. 

Carly Gillespie, director of the Downtown Farmer’s Market, told the Chronicle that the plans reflect the locals’ concerns. “Salt Lake City is making investments that they heard the community wanted,” Gillespie said. 

Investment in entrepreneurs

Pioneer Park has long served as a community gathering space and it is the location for the weekly Downtown Farmer’s Market. The market attracts thousands of visitors throughout the season. “We bring a lot of people downtown,” Gillespie said. “And 65% of Pioneer Park visitations happen on the 21 Saturdays that we operate.”

According to Gillespie, the market is an economic driver for local entrepreneurs, providing small business owners, farmers and artists with direct access to a large clientele. 

For many vendors, the market is where they build a customer base, since it allows them to test products they are passionate about and to generate income without the costs associated with starting a business from the ground up and expanding. “We as an organization started the farmer’s market to activate what was then considered kind of a bad neighborhood, a bad park,” said Gillespie. “And our executive director drove up to the fruit highway and started begging farmers to come help him start a farmers’ market.”

Despite construction on the park’s north side, organizers have maintained the market’s size and number of vendors. Additionally, the market is relocated to the south side of the park – the athletic field – and portions of surrounding streets.

The effort, Gillespie said, allows the market to continue serving its vendors.

Local concerns

Located in the Rio Grande District, the park’s history dates back to the mid 1800s. The area has experienced significant redevelopment, housing and homelessness in its past, sometimes leading to a reputation linked with encampments and crime. 

A survey published by Salt Lake City in 2021 suggests those concerns are reflected in public opinion. 50% of respondents reported being somewhat or extremely dissatisfied with Pioneer Park, while 25% were neutral and 25% were somewhat or extremely satisfied. 

The survey also found that 56% of respondents believed security improvements, such as lighting, cameras, or increased oversight, would make the park better. 11 survey respondents indicated that no changes were needed at Pioneer Park. 

Carly Herrmann, an adjunct professor of dance at the University of Utah, talked about her own experience at the park. “Sometimes it can get a little sketchy walking, even in the daytime around the park,” Herrmann said. “There have been gunshots in the park. I had someone tell me that they were gonna stab me in the neck, and she chased me.”

Furthermore, Herrmann said she feels the park is constantly dirty and littered with trash. With multiple locations for shelters and homeless service resource centers located within a short distance of Pioneer Park, there is a heavier influx of those experiencing homelessness. 

With the rebuilt park, Herrmann said enforcement might increase as the park is used more often, although she said she is moving out of Salt Lake City this August, as she feels unsafe living near Pioneer Park. “I cannot stand how unsafe I feel,” Herrmann said. 

As a result of crime and danger, the city’s goal is to create a desirable area of visitation for its population. Construction will continue through late 2026.

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