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Salt Lake City begins construction on Pioneer Park

The Salt Lake City Department of Public Lands will begin construction on major improvements at Pioneer Park in March, marking the next phase of the City’s long-planned revitalization of the historic downtown space.

Guided by community input and the adopted vision plan, the project will add a pavilion, a co-located restroom and ranger office building, an accessible playground, a promenade, a mist fountain plaza, pickleball courts, a basketball court, a dog park, and an expanded tree canopy with new landscaping. The upgrades are designed to improve safety, accessibility, and year-round use while replacing aging park infrastructure.

“Pioneer Park is among Salt Lake City’s most historic blocks,” said Mayor Mendenhall. “It was the site of our City’s first school, its first general election, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ first-ever General Conference. Yet as long as it has existed, there has also been massive potential for positive change. We owe it to Salt Lakers, especially our downtown families, to care for downtown’s only park with responsibility and stewardship.” historic character.

During the design process for Pioneer Park–established in 1847 as a fort for some of the earliest pioneers–the project team:

• Coordinated with the Division of Urban Forestry to protect healthy existing trees and plant more than 80 new ones,
• Worked with downtown stakeholders and event organizers,
• Developed energy-efficient lighting plans to improve safety and wayfinding,
• Gathered youth input on playground features, and
• Ensured compatibility with the park’s historic designation.

Salt Lake City is also pursuing Sustainable SITES certification to support water conservation, biodiversity, and long-term landscape resilience. As part of the redevelopment, Pioneer Park will receive its first permanent public art installation commissioned through the Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Public Art Program. Common Roots, by artists James Shen and Jennifer Tran, features a series of archways inspired by tree root systems and the overlapping arc patterns that trace immigrant journeys from around the world to Salt Lake City. Serving as a vibrant gateway, this site-specific artwork will celebrate the diverse communities that have shaped Pioneer Park, both historically and today.

The north half of the park will be closed to the public throughout construction. Early work includes excavation and construction of underground items like pipe, footings for poles and structures, and concrete path and promenade installation. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2026.

The $18 million project is funded through a combination of impact fees and voter-supported bond investments proposed by Mayor Mendenhall and approved by the Salt Lake City Council between 2019 and 2024 to implement the Pioneer Park Vision Plan.