Herman Franks Park
Restoring Emigration Creek to activate & enhance this green space.
We were selected by Bockholt Landscape Architecture’s technical assistance program in 2016. The firm aided in crafting a community-based design vision to uncover Emigration Creek through Herman Franks Park. Two stakeholder meetings engaged Salt Lake City departments, technical experts, and other stakeholders to provide feedback and assistance. Two design workshops engaged over 100 community members to gather thoughts, ideas, and visions.
The first workshop focused on themes. Improving water quality was voted as the number one consideration, followed by the creation of a community amenity in second, and enhancement of wildlife habitat in third. The second workshop gathered feedback on two design concepts. Feedback was used to generate a preferred design. The Herman Franks Park Emigration Creek Vision advances implementation of the project.
Funders
Franks Family Foundation - Lush Cosmetics
“I love the idea of exposing this section of the creek. I live about five blocks away and admittedly never visit the park. I would love a more diverse space here to enjoy, and also feel the exposure would increase creek awareness.”
Before
Goals
Restore Emigration Creek to address water quality impairments, and protect the riparian corridor through site design;
Create a beautiful, vibrant community destination to access nature, learn about hydrology, and improve outdoor recreation and active transportation connections; and
Enhance the site’s vegetative biodiversity and habitat value for target wildlife species.
Feedback
Share your thoughts!
Background
In 2015, a now semiannual-walk with the Westminster College Environmental Studies program traced the Emigration Creek from campus to Liberty Park. Students found the creek flowed underneath a neighborhood green space in the East Liberty neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Herman Franks Park. Named after baseball legend and native-Utahan, Herman Franks, its attractors include three baseball diamonds and a dog park, affixed between the fields. Students examined the benefits of bringing Emigration Creek to the surface here, and envisioned short-term strategies to build support for the effort.
Data
I support Salt Lake City’s implementation of this project.
