Donner Trail Park : Improvement Project
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Project Description
Donner Trail Park is a 14.27 acre park in the East Bench neighborhood. Long enjoyed for its stunning views of the City and the nearby mountains, it will be receiving investments to better reflect neighborhood needs and unique history.
The improvements will include: updated playgrounds; water-wise landscaping; additional benches, picnic tables, and signage; trees added over time as a part of the Memorial Tree Grove; and an art installation, Journey Lines by Adam Kuby.
Project Details
Project Location
2903 Kennedy Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Project Manager
Kira Johnson
Project Status
Finalizing concept design
Project Funding
Donner Trail Park has received funding from three different funding sources. Each has been approved by the Salt Lake City Council, voters, or both and must be used in accordance with their original intent. The funding sources were combined into one project to reduce construction impacts.
General Park Improvements ($750,000 – Parks GO Bond Funding): SLC voters approved the Parks Bond in November 2022. As part of the bond, each city council district received $1.5 million to enhance parks.
Memorial Tree Grove ($434,000 – CIP Funding): Funds from the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) are dedicated to creating a Memorial Tree Grove within the park.
Art Installation (GO Bond Art Allocation): A small percentage (1.5%) of the GO Bond is allocated for art installations across several parks in the city, including Donner Trail Park. Learn more by reading this article about the art installation.
Memorial Tree Grove
As a part of this project, Salt Lake City will designate its first Memorial Tree Grove. This memorial grove speaks to the community’s desire to honor and celebrate loved ones who have passed while adding needed tree canopy. Unlike traditional groves concentrated in one area, the Memorial Tree Grove at Donner Trail Park will be thoughtfully scattered across its 14.27 acres, complementing the many beautiful trees already present. As these memorial trees become established over time, they will enhance the park’s natural beauty and provide valuable wildlife habitat within the city.
Community members will be provided the opportunity to donate trees in memory of a loved one in a more structured, sustainable, and predictable way. Information on how to participate in this memorial initiative will be coming.
The tree species and locations have been carefully selected to maintain views and provide succession to existing trees, ensuring the park’s landscape remains inviting for generations to come.
Project Updates
CURRENTLY: Finalizing Concept Design
Thanks to insights shared in the second round of public input, we’ve made adjustments to the design, which is being finalized by professional Landscape Architects.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) we heard during the second round of public engagement.
Community Engagement
First Round of Public Input
From May to September 2023, Public Lands conducted the first phase of community engagement to understand the community’s desires for the park and how they wish to see it improved. The feedback collected helped inform decisions on how to proceed with the design phase, and ultimately implementation of the collective vision.
Second Round of Public Input
From October to November 2024, we invited community feedback on the proposed designs, which were shaped by insights from our first round of public input.
Read the report below to learn what we heard during this process and how staff are incorporating the feedback into the designs.
Project Timeline
Develop the project’s scope of work.
First Public Input Opportunity: Identify the Public’s values and vision for the project.
Evaluate Public Feedback.
Develop Concept Designs.
Second Public Input Opportunity: Showcase concept plans for public evaluation and feedback.
Project Design & Document Review.
Contractor Bidding & Selection.
Construction.
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