Three Creeks Confluence wins Achievement Award!
Authored by Brian Tonetti
The Seven Canyons Trust, Salt Lake City, and BIO-WEST, Inc. received an Achievement Award under the Project/Study/Master Plan category from the Utah Chapter of the American Planning Association. The award recognizes the innovative stream daylighting design and community engagement approach at the Three Creeks Confluence in Salt Lake City, UT.
The Seven Canyons Trust, Salt Lake City, and BIO-WEST, Inc. received an Achievement Award under the Project/Study/Master Plan category from the Utah Chapter of the American Planning Association for the Three Creeks Confluence. The award recognizes the innovative design to uncover 200 feet of Red Butte, Emigration, and Parleys Creeks, where they flow into the Jordan River.
The Three Creeks Confluence cleans discharge from a 100-square mile watershed area, through deposition and nutrient-retaining vegetation. The new channel allows the creek to fluctuate and expand with high flows. Thereby, it prevents flooding in downstream, underserved communities.
Families and children have restored access to nature. Birders and wildlife watchers can enjoy new visitors. Anglers can utilize new infrastructure at one of the most popular fishing holes in Salt Lake City.
A bridge across the Jordan River provides connection for nearby Sorenson Unity and Multi-Cultural Center, Riley Elementary, and Utah Community Action with less than a block access to the 45-mile Jordan River Trail. Students can utilize the creek as a living laboratory for STEM-based education. Gathering spaces provide areas to relax or host celebrations, events, and environmental education programming.
The award also recognized the innovative community engagement process. Salt Lake City Parks and Public Lands held three community design workshops in 2016. The first workshop took comment on larger project themes, the second on three design concepts, and the third on the preferred design.
In addition, the Seven Canyons Trust used celebrations and urban intervention to catalyze long-term support. A group of third-graders painted a 200-foot meandering “creek” to represent the underground waters; completed with a prompt, “This would be a good spot for a creek.” Residents painted a 500-foot creek channel to extend the effort across the street. A large chalkboard, with the words “Goals/Metas” and “Visions/Visiones,” urged residents to provide feedback.
Local artists, Wendy Wischer and John Mack, construct a placemaking installation, entitled, Where the Waters Meet. Two dance performances celebrated the area and Salt Lake City’s hydrology. There Were Trees featured two student-led dance routines followed by a performance by local group, Banddance Danceband. A second improvisation jam, in conjunction with an open mic to share poetry, song, or story, activated the placemaking installation.
