Walkers and bikers have a new section of the Jordan River Trail to explore in Salt Lake City.
After closing a portion of the riverside path in April to deal with persistent crime and environmental issues, City Hall rebuilt the trail on the opposite, western bank of the waterway. City officials plan to unveil the new section Friday and welcome trail users back to the portion of the river from Cottonwood Park to 700 North, near Backman Elementary School.
“This project is about more than just improving a trail, it’s about restoring a space for the community,” Kim Shelley, the city’s director of public lands, said in a Thursday news release. “By working closely with our partners in public safety, we are creating a safer, more accessible environment where residents can walk, bike, and connect with nature.”
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Jordan River Trail is pictured on Thursday, July 10, 2025, as Salt Lake City prepares to reopen part of the path between Cottonwood Park and 700 North.
The Jordan River and its path have long had the potential to be west-side gems, but have struggled with neglect, impacts from homelessness and crime, especially in Utah’s capital.
Additional improvements are coming to the new section of the trail, city officials said. This portion closed in April after festering crime made some residents feel unsafe and environmental degradation affected the riparian corridor’s health.
The city used the monthslong closure to clean up and improve the area. Staff from the Public Lands Department cleared overgrown vegetation, removed trash and cleaned up the section to make it easier for trail users to see into previously hidden places.
City Hall rerouted a quarter-mile of the path between 500 North and 700 North to the western bank. Crews laid down a new 14-foot-wide surface, wider than most other sections of the trail in Utah’s capital.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Jordan River Trail is pictured on Thursday, July 10, 2025, as Salt Lake City prepares to reopen part of the path between Cottonwood Park and 700 North.
“It’s safe to say we’d love to have it open again if the city is ready to manage the trail along these stretches so that it is safe and pleasant to use. That is a challenge,” Fairpark Community Council Chair Jeffery Olson said. “... The Jordan River is a valuable asset to the community and worth keeping safe and pleasant.”
New after-hours private security guards will patrol the new segment. During the day, Salt Lake City park rangers will increase their presence there, too. City police officers will continue patrolling the path on bike and on foot, the news release said.
“[The] reopening of the Jordan River Trail represents our city’s commitment to public safety, environmental restoration, and community growth and activation of our open spaces,” Salt Lake City Police Department commander Andy Cluff said. “We are committed to doing everything we can to keep it safe, accessible, and open to everyone.”
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Jordan River Trail is pictured on Thursday, July 10, 2025, as Salt Lake City prepares to reopen part of the path between Cottonwood Park and 700 North.
Construction is continuing on a new nature-themed playground and new 2-acre open space, featuring an outdoor classroom and a garden, just south of 700 North alongside the new pavement. City officials said those amenities are set to open in August.
City Hall is also continuing to roll out surveillance cameras and new lighting along the Jordan River Trail as part of Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s Public Safety Plan.