Hidden Waters
Celebrating water in our oasis on the desert’s edge.
The Hidden Waters installation will consist of a series of artist-commissioned Water Drops. The installation will be initially focused on North Temple where City Creek flows aboveground in City Creek Park and then underneath State Street in a culvert. It will connect City Creek Park to the Folsom Trail corridor at 600 West in Salt Lake City.
The installation will culturally daylight the creek—not physically bringing the creek back to the surface. But rather, bringing the idea that the creek runs underneath the city, to the surface of the collective consciousness. It will highlight a past stream daylighting project at City Creek Park and a future project to uncover City Creek along the Folsom Trail.
The installation will explore narratives that highlight Salt Lake City’s relationship with water, such as the Indigenous Peoples of the Salt Lake Valley, the Greatest Snow on Earth, the 2034 Winter Olympics as water sports, stream daylighting, the Great Salt Lake, and more.
Goals
Increase knowledge of Salt Lake City’s hydrology—its creeks, the Jordan River, and Great Salt Lake—and issues related to water
Highlight City Creek Park and the City Creek at Folsom Trail project to create east-west connections
Increase pedestrian traffic from Central Business District to North Temple and the Folsom Trail corridor
Connect people to our waterways and highlight cultural narratives around water through a hopeful, solutions-based lens
Background
This project has received funding from
the artists
In 2024, the Hidden Waters installation was chosen as one of the first recipients of The Blocks’ Co-Create Program. This program aims to foster collaborative endeavors to produce distinctive art installations, performances, activations, and projects within the boundaries of Downtown Salt Lake City, otherwise known as The Blocks Arts District.
Hidden Waters Unveiling Tour
Tour Date: April 11
Time: 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
Meeting Location for Tour: City Creek Park
Adopt-A-Drop Program
We are thrilled to invite you to the Hidden Waters Unveiling!
This special event will celebrate the unveiling of eight stunning artworks that honor Salt Lake City’s urban waterways. These artist-commissioned Water Drops highlight the beauty, history, and significance of our often-overlooked natural spaces, transforming the landscape into a powerful narrative of connection and restoration.
Join community members, local leaders, and environmental advocates as we commemorate this milestone. Through art and storytelling, we'll shine a light on the importance of restoring and reconnecting with our hidden waterways—bringing these vital lifelines back into the heart of our city.
Come celebrate with us and experience how creativity can inspire action for our urban ecosystems. We can’t wait to see you there!
Coming Summer 2025: Adopt A Drop!
Seven Canyons Trust is gearing up to launch Adopt A Drop, an exciting new program designed to highlight and protect our hidden waterways. This initiative will support the maintenance and preservation of Water Drops—public art installations that connect our community to the natural water systems flowing beneath our city.
The Adopt A Drop program will enlist surrounding businesses to support nearby Water Drops. Donations will support a commissioned artist and fund maintenance and/or replacement, ensuring these installations remain vibrant and impactful. The donation amount to adopt a drop will be announced soon.
Stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved in this meaningful initiative launching soon!
Every drop makes a difference!
