Construction on the Three Creeks Confluence begins
Authored by Brian Tonetti
An article detailing the construction of the Three Creeks Confluence. This effort will daylight 200 feet of the combined waters of Red Butte, Emigration, and Parleys creeks, where they enter the Jordan River, in Salt Lake City, UT.
Yes, construction has begun and it’s hard to put into words what these piles of dirt mean.
Six years ago, a group of University of Utah students (myself included) created an ambitious vision, 100 Years of Daylighting. Over the next century, this vision will uncover and restore the buried and impaired waterways of the Salt Lake Valley. This work became the foundation for the Seven Canyons Trust.
The first intervention in that vision was proposed at a special location. During our initial analysis of the Valley’s hydrology in that course, each creek was mapped from headwaters to confluence. A series of flyovers were created. We noticed three creeks – Red Butte, Emigration, and Parley’s – spilled out at the same location, 1300 South and 900 West, in Salt Lake City. Sandwiched between an auto shop and half-burnt home, the initial site visit revealed a degraded site. Renderings and site plans were created to demonstrate the potential for stream daylighting at this location and, more broadly, for the Salt Lake Valley. Highlighted as the centerpiece of 100 Years of Daylighting, the Three Creeks Confluence was born.
As students, we presented this ambitious project to then Councilmember Kyle LaMalfa in 2014. He championed the vision, bringing it to the radar of Salt Lake City’s Parks & Public Lands. Three community workshops gathered public feedback. Community celebrations introduced residents to the site through creative art intervention and tactical urbanism. Open mics, dances, and creek walks activated the site and generated support for the effort – all building up to this.
Over $3 million is secured for the construction of the Three Creeks Confluence. We are daylighting 200 feet of combined stream, along with the creation of a Jordan River Trail connection, fishing bridge, and plaza space. In 2017, the Seven Canyons Trust received an Achievement Award from the Utah American Planning Association for the innovative project design and the creative community engagement process.
Project Goals
Expanding solutions to water quality impairments;
Enhancing habitat value and reactivating the neglected space;
Diversifying active transportation and recreation opportunities; and
Creating a gateway to the Jordan River for nearby community anchor institutions, schools, and the surrounding neighborhood.
Completion is anticipated in Summer 2020 and it is all thanks to you! A big thanks to all of those who have helped us along the way – supporters, partners, and donors alike. Now time to celebrate!
