SLC.gov

Nov. 20, 2025

Salt Lake City celebrated the grand opening of Backman Community Open Space, 601 N. 1500 West, marking the completion of the first project funded through the City’s Parks, Trails and Open Space General Obligation (GO) Bond on Nov. 20. The new two-acre open space, adjacent to Backman Elementary School and the Jordan River, transforms what was once an overgrown and unsafe area into a vibrant, educational, and recreational hub for the Rose Park community.

The Department of Public Lands has implemented safety improvements, a public nature playground, an outdoor classroom, and new looped pathways that create opportunities for play, learning, and connection with nature. Visitors can also access the Jordan River Parkway Trail from 500 North and 700 North through this reimagined green space. 

“The new space achieves a goal voters set in place with the approval of the GO Bond in 2022—creating a safe place for families to spend time together in nature,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “I’m excited for many more spaces like it to come.”

The project builds upon the success of the Bridge to Backman, completed in 2022, which created a safe connection for children walking to Backman Elementary from the west side of the Jordan River, eliminating the need to walk along the busy streets of Redwood Road and 700 North. Together, the bridge and open space provide safe and engaging access for local families while improving a once-blighted section of the Jordan River Parkway. 

“This space reflects the power of partnership and persistence,” said Tyler Murdock, deputy director of the Department of Public Lands. “What started as a grassroots community idea nearly a decade ago has helped us create a safer, beautiful, and connected public space for our residents.” 

Backman Elementary School will play a special role in the stewardship of the new site by programming the outdoor classroom and supporting environmental education and community partnerships. 

The $900,000 project was funded with $200,000 from the GO Bond, and the remainder was provided by support from the City’s Capital Improvement Program, Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, and the Salt Lake City School District’s Education Foundation. This project honors initiatives to enhance and restore the Jordan River Corridor, outlined in the City’s Emerald Ribbon Action Plan.  

“This is more than an open space, it’s an investment in safety, education, and community well-being,” said Kim Shelley, director of the Department of Public Lands. “By connecting children to nature and creating a space for families to gather, we’re strengthening both our neighborhoods and our City’s relationship with the Jordan River.” 

Backman Community Open Space stands as a testament to what can be accomplished through collaboration between residents, schools, and city partners and is an example of the City’s commitment to creating equitable, welcoming, and sustainable spaces.