An area that once was an eyesore and a blight on Salt Lake City is developing into an active, attractive part of the community. One of the key events in the transformation of this one-time industrial waste yard is a half-mile long park that brought "green space" to the west side of Salt Lake City.

The park, which officially opened at a ceremony April 30th, is known as 500 West Park Block. It joins the west and the east sides of the community and will be a catalyst for future development in the area (see BEFORE and AFTER photos above). Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and other city dignitaries thanked the federal agencies for making the new park a reality. "We used to have rail lines running through here," Mayor Anderson said, "and it served as an effective barrier between the east and west sides of our city. This is now stunning open space."

The park is a beautiful amenity for this revitalized area and is adjacent to The Gateway apartment and commercial complex. The 392 Gateway apartments were home to members of the news media who covered the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, but today are an important new affordable housing resource for Salt Lake City. The second phase of the area's renewal, expected be completed by October 2002, will extend the park to the south.

Long time HUD staffer Julie Fagan, Regional Director John Carson, and new Field Office Director Russell Beckley took part in the "green space" ceremony.

HUD's recently appointed Director for the Rocky Mountain Region, John Carson, spoke at the event. Carson took the opportunity to introduce the new Field Office Director for HUD's Utah State Office in Salt Lake City, Russell Beckley. Funds to create the green space came from HUD, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Economic Development Administration. $500,000 in HUD Community Development Block Grant funds made the land acquisition possible, and were part of $2.5 million used for The Gateway development project.