In late August we invited journalists with many news and media outlets to join our Get to the River Festival kickoff event at the Big Bend nature park and preserve in West Jordan. Jose Davila IV, a reporter with The Salt Lake Tribune, decided to take a deep dive into some of the current challenges and triumphs, speaking with many community leaders and regular Jordan River Parkway users. He also explored what is in the works for the future of the Jordan River and Parkway. This three part series, focusing primarily on Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County, was also featured through a partnership with City Cast Salt Lake, which produced an accompanying podcast episode for each article of the series.
Below you will find links to each article and podcast, along with questions to help you engage deeper into the story and keep the conversation going. What was your first impression of the river? Was it good or bad? How has your perception changed over time? We invite you to be a part of the discussion and the future of the river.
Note: The Salt Lake Tribune gives a limited number of complimentary article views per month.
Part 1 – The Challenges
Part one looks at the prominent issues that the river and trail are facing, particularly in Salt Lake City, the largest and most urbanized setting along the river. As you read the article and listen to the podcast, reflect on what your own experience has been along the river. What challenges have you seen? If you could change one thing about the current condition, what would it be? What opportunities are created by the challenges?
(Behind the Headlines Podcast discuss the article around min 32:30)
Part 2 – The Triumphs
In part two we see examples of where the river and trail are thriving and being embraced as a recreational resource and natural spaces are being rehabilitated for wildlife. How can these successes be recreated in problematic areas, and how do less developed areas prevent the problems we are facing in the more urbanized environments? Does it simply boil down to the difference between urban and suburban? With continued growth, is there a way to do it better than we have in the past? Check out the last part for examples of what’s possible.
Part 3 – The Future
In the final article, we learn more about the projects that are currently in development along the river. Where we once turned our backs to the river and saw it as the ‘back of house’, we are seeing new development putting it front and center. What do you think has caused this change in perspective? For those not yet sold on the vision, how can we change their mind? How do we balance humans with nature?
Epilogue
For many stories, we don’t get to see how it came into being. For this series we are fortunate to have the story behind the story from Jose Davila IV. Read more about what inspired him to create this series. Think about what your own story and connection to the Jordan River is. Why do you care about the river? What do you want to see the parkway become in the future? What are examples you’ve seen from other river cities that we can adopt? Finally, what can you do to get involved and use your voice?
The Salt Lake Tribune created a video about the Jordan River to help orient people new to the river to the history and recreational possibilities.
