Salt Lake City

SLC.gov

Dec. 10, 2024

Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City Board of Directors presented with new design concepts ahead of final selection in 2025

Salt Lake City’s Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Board of Directors reviewed three visionary urban design scenarios for redeveloping the Smith’s Ballpark site on Tuesday. These concepts aim to transform the 13.5-acre space into one that reflects what’s important to the neighborhood and reinvigorate it while supporting sustainable growth.

“This is a once-in-a-century opportunity to breathe new life into one of Salt Lake City’s most family-centric spaces while staying true to the heart of the Ballpark neighborhood,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “We’ve worked side by side with residents to ensure their voices are guiding this transformation. Their ideas are shaping a future that strengthens community and creates a space we can all be proud of for generations to come.”

The RDA meeting featured a detailed presentation by Perkins&Will, who has led the design effort since being selected earlier this year. Each scenario offers a distinct pathway for the site’s future, emphasizing sports, culture, or ecology while preserving the area’s historical and social significance:

  1. Preserve – activity and sports as the core

This scenario keeps the Ballpark Field as a centerpiece, transforming it into a year-round venue for professional, amateur, and community sports. The design envisions an active, integrated neighborhood anchored by the renovated stadium, that could support space for things such as a farmers market, festivals on West Temple, and local retail spaces. A regulation soccer field is also included, expanding the site’s versatility.

  1. Adaptive reuse – arts and culture

This scenario transitions the Ballpark into a hub for arts and culture. The western segment of the stadium is preserved and retrofitted as a venue for performances and community events. A multi-purpose green space invites gatherings and festivals, while natural walkways and art installations create a welcoming social atmosphere.

  1. Completely rebuild – ecology and nature as the focus

This scenario celebrates the natural environment by partially daylighting the three creeks beneath 1300 South and embedding park spaces throughout the site. Civic, commercial, and residential uses are seamlessly integrated with nature, creating an inviting and serene urban environment. Tree-lined streets, bike paths, and pocket parks offer opportunities for recreation.

“Community feedback has been the backbone of this project,” said Lauren Parisi, Project Manager for the Redevelopment Agency. “Each of these scenarios showcase how thoughtful design can honor the neighborhood’s history while reimagining the Ballpark as a cornerstone of Salt Lake City’s future.”

Following the Board meeting, Perkins&Will will refine the three scenarios based on feedback from City leadership and the community. A final recommendation is expected in early 2025, marking a significant milestone in the Ballpark site’s transformation. Then, it’s anticipated that the RDA will release a Request for Proposals (RFP) inviting developers to propose how they would complete Phase 1 of the project.

About Ballpark NEXT:

In January 2023, after 100 years of baseball at the corner of West Temple and 1300 South, the Larry H. Miller Company announced that the Salt Lake Bees would relocate to a new stadium after the close of the 2024 season. This presented both Salt Lake City and the Ballpark neighborhood with a rare opportunity to reimagine the iconic Smith’s Ballpark and an adjacent city-owned parking lot totaling 13.5 acres as a dynamic, community-driven space.

Adopted plans, reports, and ideas from past initiatives, such as the Ballpark Station Area Plan and the Ballpark Community Council Ideas Document, provided a solid framework for the visioning process. The three winning concepts from the Ballpark NEXT Design Competition, which invited the public to submit their ideas for the site, also inspired key visioning themes. This year, Salt Lake City led an inclusive visioning process involving residents, the RDA, GSBS Architects, and other stakeholders. This effort produced the Ballpark NEXT Guiding Principles, a comprehensive framework to inform both immediate and long-term development strategies.

To learn more about Ballpark NEXT and the three design scenarios, visit ballparknext.com.

About the RDA:

The Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City (RDA) is dedicated to revitalizing neighborhoods, creating affordable housing, and fostering community-centered development. The RDA works collaboratively to implement Salt Lake City’s Housing Plan and to support sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities. 

Tags: affordable housing, Ballpark, Ballpark district, ballpark neighborhood, entertainment, Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City (RDA), Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City Council, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, sports