Design Workshop to lead Greenways Plan
Authored by Brian Tonetti
Design Workshop has been chosen to help the Seven Canyons Trust develop the Seven Greenways Vision Plan. This process will set in motion a community-supported framework to highlight opportunity areas, best management practices, policies, and a toolbox of design concepts to create seven greenway corridors along our creeks in Salt Lake County, UT.
We are excited to announce Design Workshop was chosen to help us lead the Seven Greenways Vision Plan. Design Workshop comes with experience in developing similar greenways that enhance urban ecology and livability in various locals, such as the Rouge River Greenway in Detroit, Beaufort County Greenprint Plan in South Carolina, Shooks Run in Colorado Springs, and Baton Rouge Greenway in Louisiana. Currently, Design Workshop is working on the Salt Lake City Public Lands Master Plan.
The Design Workshop team, Anna Laybourn (Principal) and Carly Klein (Project Manager), bring decades of greenway experience and commitment to people and place. In fact, Carly’s senior capstone at the University of Utah studied the daylighting of Salt Lake County’s seven creeks. It laid the groundwork for the cohort of students that formed the Seven Canyons Trust. They are joined by additional Design Workshop teammates that provide expertise in ecological sciences, urban design and planning, online engagement tools, and graphics.
The Seven Canyons Trust will serve as a co-consultant. We will work collaboratively with Design Workshop and other stakeholders to ensure a high-quality, community-based vision and set the stage for implementation of goals, recommendations, and opportunities therein. The National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program will bring additional technical expertise in community engagement and a means for future implementation. Betsy Byrne will serve as the Program’s representative.
Rediscovery and exploration lie before our residents, visitors, and partners along the Wasatch Front. This process will set in motion a community-supported framework to highlight opportunity areas, best management practices, policies, and a toolbox of design concepts and guidelines. The Salt Lake Valley is facing an exciting future–a connected system of greenways that celebrate our waterways. We believe this resonates with virtually every person who lives, works, or visits our beautiful Valley.
The Seven Greenways Vision Plan represents hope (at a time in need of positivity); expressing how a vision over generations is brought to reality. It requires a collective response and articulated message of benefits: revitalization of streams, enhanced bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, catalyzed economic activity, increased climate resiliency, improved wildlife habitat, providing places for people to experience nature, and opportunities to learn about and enjoy water in our oasis on desert’s edge.
The Seven Greenways Vision Plan will take place over a 12-month period in three phases.
Phase 01. Existing Conditions
The historic and current conditions will create a foundation for the Seven Greenways Vision Plan. Analysis maps, developed from existing reports, plans, and data, will highlight current and historic creek corridors, water quality, stream ecology and restoration, land use integration, and community connection and recreation opportunities. This phase will gain consensus on project goals, identify data gaps, and discuss initial key opportunities. An existing conditions report will become a technical resource for Salt Lake County and municipal governments to perpetuate the plan.
Phase 02. Community Visioning
Public and stakeholder engagement will provide the structure of the Seven Greenways Vision Plan. Inclusive methods and COVID-19 (Coronavirus) considerations will help reach underrepresented populations and ensure everyone’s safety in participating. Workshops will engage participants in concept planning and visioning exercises to understand restraints and identify opportunities, recommendations, best management practices, and creative solutions. A digital Community Forum, surveying, and interactive project page will inform interested community members throughout the process. A draft vision statement, goals, and possible improvements--developed from the feedback--form the framework for the plan.
Phase 03. Vision Plan
The final Seven Greenways Vision Plan will include goals, partners, opportunities areas, recommendations, best management practices, precedents, funding mechanisms, and policy tools to perpetuate progress. Two volumes will be organized for different purposes and intended audiences:
Vision Plan - A graphically-rich, community-facing document to spawn excitement and support for key ideas to build the seven greenways.
Implementation Plan & Appendices – A technical, information-rich document for Salt Lake County, municipalities, and key stakeholders to advance recommendations, opportunities, and funding.
A final celebration will commemorate success and gather partners and community members together to pursue implementation. Final workshops with Salt Lake County and each municipality will prepare partners to pursue projects.
