This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The citizens of Utah did not put their best foot forward in their collective reactions to the prospect of a new homeless shelter in their midst. I know Utahns are much better, and more compassionate, than they appeared during the homeless shelter relocation saga.
There are myriad anecdotes about how much Utahns care about others, down to and including the generous assistance offered by my neighborhood LDS ward (my family and I are not members) when we experienced a family crisis several years ago. It was the quintessential example of walking the walk, and not just talking the talk. I will never forget and always appreciate the gesture.
Fortunately, current events offer Utahns, and particularly Salt Lake County, an opportunity for redemption. We can make the about-to-be-vacated Utah State Prison site in Draper a state-of-the-art park, of a size and stature comparable with Central Park in New York. Such a gesture would capture the attention of the nation and the world.
Discussions about what to do with the prison site have begun. What I've heard so far sounds mostly like bromides and banalities. There's nothing to catch everyone's imagination, something that everyone can visualize and become excited about.
I can't think of better way to say to the world (including Silicon Valley) that Utah values families, work/life balance, and the environment. The prison site is over 700 acres. Central Park in New York is over 800 acres. We should call this proposed prison site park Central Park as well. Utah should unapologetically say that Central Park in New York is the inspiration. It would change everyone's orientation for the Salt Lake Valley. The Salt Lake County/Utah County line would now become the center of things. It would attract professionals to Utah from around the world. It should be a state-of-the-art park, with a body of water (like in New York's Central Park) which could be used for skating in the winter, ball fields, miles of biking and walking trails, a hill for sleds in the winter, an amphitheater, and so on. The site already has proximity to the Frontrunner rail line, and TRAX could be extended there easily. This would be a bold move that would send a very positive signal about Utah. The degree that Central Park has improved the lives of New Yorkers is incalculable. Utahns could expect a similar benefit.
I'm going to guess that not everyone will welcome this proposal. To Utah's apoplectic developers, I would say that substituting the State Prison with the best urban park in the United States will enhance the value of all of the rest of the land in the area. I would advocate for zoning laws allowing very high density offices and housing around this proposed Salt Lake County Central Park. As mentioned, the goal would be to make it the real center of things. The high density for the surrounding land would be another valuable consolation prize for developers.
This proposed gigantic park, built to be better than any other urban park in the country, would match up with the vision and values of Utah. I urge the citizens of Utah to support it with a greater fervor than those who opposed the proposed homeless shelters.
Eric Rumple is the author of the novel "Forgive Our Debts." He lives in Sandy.