Although its grand opening is still nearly three weeks away, Salt Lake City's newest downtown park/plaza is open to pedestrians - a place redevelopment officials hope will become the city's central meeting place for rallies, concerts and receptions.
The plaza, located in the heart of Block 57, which is in the heart of downtown, between 200 and 300 South and Main and State streets, opened for the Slavic Festival, which began Friday night.Built by the city's Redevelopment Agency at a cost of $6.5 million, it is an attraction officials hope will spur more growth on the block. Redevelopment officials bought and razed most buildings on the block in the 1980s, hoping to attract major developments. So far, the One Utah Center, a 24-story office building adjacent to the plaza, is the only success.
"The plaza is a real good example of the sort of impact redevelopment can have," city redevel-op-ment director Alice Steiner said Friday. But she said the rest of the block may not be developed for several years.
"Once interested developers can see the plaza, it will be an easier sell," she said.
The plaza features a large pond, which will be used as a skating rink in the winter. The focal point of the 200 South entrance is a tall, cylindrical sculpture with a large stone atop. At the base is a sun dial that tells not only the time but the month and certain holidays.
Walls within the plaza are full of art. One is etched with the English versions of Indian legends. Another is covered with art by first-graders, transferred onto bronze. The sides of a bridge leading into the park from State Street are decorated with sand formations, using sand from various parts of the state.
A fountain in the center of the plaza drops water from the top down.
"We did that because, in Utah, water doesn't spring up," said Valda Tarbet, the redevelopment agency's project manager.
A large activities building in the plaza contains a room for receptions or performances. A police station will be on the second floor. Near the building will be a small aviary and a large human-size chess board.
The northwest corner of the plaza is tiled with granite stones etched with messages, advertisements and names. The agency announced last year it was allowing anyone to print a message on a tile for $57.
Steiner said the plaza will grow farther into the block when developers decide to build on the east and south ends. She hopes a restaurant will decide to locate on the north end.
The grand opening is scheduled for July 8-10.