SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Salt Lake City is considering creating a “Green Loop,” which would surround the city center with a ring of green spaces.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall was one of the main supporters of the proposal.
“It’s about the economy of our future and building an integrated quality of life network for the future of downtown in the next century,” Mendenhall said at a city council meeting on Aug. 13. “That’s what we want to live by.”
The green loop would run along 500 West, 900 South and 200 East, with a connection north along either North or South Temple.
Proponents want the Green Loop to be fully constructed and construction completed in 2033, just before the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
That wouldn’t be cheap. City officials estimate that building the entire Green Loop would cost between $250 million and $350 million.
Proponents do not know how the funding will be provided, but said it will be a mix of state, federal, private, charitable and municipal funds.
During the Aug. 13 meeting, many council members seemed to support the idea, but raised questions and concerns ranging from the impact on traffic congestion to whether there would be money to maintain the Green Loop if it were built.
“I want to feel good about having a really solid plan for maintenance as the facility comes online and grows, and I don’t want it to come to that… we’re not putting that against our existing deferred maintenance projects,” said Councilman Chris Wharton.
Mendenhall had originally asked the city for $10 million to begin the project, but then cut that amount to $3 million for design.
Council members have until September 1 to decide whether to approve the funding.
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