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Sections of the Jordan River Trail are Reopen – Just in Time for Summer Fun!

On July 11, 2025, Salt Lake City officials reopened a portion of the Jordan River Trail that had been closed  to the public since April to address safety and environmental concerns. This section, located between Cottonwood Park and 700 North, is now ready for outdoor recreation activities with the entire family.  At the reopening, City officials discussed the importance of investing in the Jordan River, which is a top priority for the Department of Public Lands .“This project is about more than just improving a trail, it’s about restoring a space for the community,” said Kim Shelley, Director of Public Lands. “By working closely with our partners in Public Safety, we are creating a safer, more accessible environment where residents can walk, bike, and connect with nature.” 

What work was done during the closure?

Relocated section of trail  

• Construction has been completed on a newly designed and relocated trail segment between 500 North and 700 North.  
• Relocation has improved natural surveillance by increasing visibility on the trail. 
• The trail width is wider than the original (12 feet as opposed to 8 feet) to improve user safety and meet federal trail standards. With e-bikes becoming more popular, this change was necessary to make the trail easy for all people to share. 

Vegetation removal

• Areas of vegetation on the trail have been cleared and managed to create better sightlines. 
• The Department of Public Lands is working to be more thoughtful on how the trail is maintained to balance public safety and the habitat of the river. 
• Public Lands is following a strategy set out by CPTED (Crime Prevention through Environmental Design) to focus on modifying physical landscaping in public spaces to reduce crime. This has been executed by creating View Corridors and uplifting/fostering trees to elevate safety. 

Trash clean up

• Teams have completed in-river debris clearing within the Jordan River to improve recreational access and also to prevent the buildup of trash within the river.  
• As a Salt Lake City resident, you can do your part and leave the trail better than you found it. The Department of Public Lands consistently hosts Jordan River Trail Clean Up events for community members. Sign up for an event to help keep this area beautiful for all patrons. 

Increased Surveillance

• With the reopening of the trail, Park Rangers routes have been adjusted to cover the entire area. 
• SLCPD has increased police presence on the Jordan River through bike officers regularly patrolling the area and homeless mitigation officers working consistently on trail safety. 
• Public Lands, in coordination with SLC PD and SLC Public Services has established contracted security patrols to expand capacity to enforcement of Park Ordinances within SLC Public Lands. 
• Community awareness of the Jordan River Trail is improving natural surveillance and eyes on the trail. 
• More cameras are being added in the next two months to boost police surveillance. 

What’s next for the Jordan River Trail?

New open space park

• Public Lands is creating a new two acre open space park behind Backman Elementary, located at 601 North 1500 West that will be ready before school is back in session in Aug. 2025. 
• This park will include intentional landscaping, watchable wildlife areas, an outdoor classroom, and a nature playground.

Soft surface trails

• More soft surface trails are being added to the area as outlined in the Emerald Ribbon Action Plan. This will help take pressure off the paved parts of the Jordan River Trail by providing an alternative path for users. 
• Soft surface trails improve neighborhood connectivity by providing a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive series of pathways between the community and the Jordan River corridor. 

GO Bond Projects

• The Backman Open Space is the first  GO Bond Project (General Obligation Bond)  that has been completed on the Jordan River. Four other GO Bond Projects will happen in this area over the next two years all within an $11 million allocated budget. 

The Salt Lake City Department of Public Lands and the Salt Lake City Police Department are working hard to make the Jordan River Trail safe and fun for residents and visitors to enjoy. Tyler Murdock, the Deputy Director of Public Lands said, “This is the most important habitat corridor in Salt Lake City.” The City is excited about these projects on the Jordan River and looks forward to sharing continued progress with the public. 

July 16, 2025