Salt Lake City Mayor Deedee Corradini and representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Tuesday plans to build two new parks at the north end of State Street.
As part of developing the parks, the city will bring City Creek above ground from Ottinger Hall at Memory Grove, down Canyon Road and through the city and the church's parks. The creek will then return underground.The LDS Church, through Property Reserve Inc., a title holding company for certain properties owned by the LDS Church, plans to develop a park at the southeast corner of State Street and Second Avenue.
The park, which will be on what is now a parking lot, will incorporate a pioneer theme, said Wayne Facer, vice president of Property Reserve Inc.
The church will acquire 84,000 square feet under the intersection of Main Street and South Temple from the city for an underground access. The church also will acquire the remaining interest in Richards Street and part of Canyon Road adjacent to the new park.
In exchange for the properties, Property Reserve will develop the new park and pay the city $2.26 million.
The city will use most of the money to develop a 2.6-acre park on the property bounded by State Street, Canyon Road and Second Avenue and to bring City Creek above ground.