Liberty Park
Encyclopedia
Liberty Park is a popular public urban park
in Salt Lake City, Utah
. It is the city's second-largest public park, at 80 acres (32.4 ha), being surpassed only by Sugarhouse Park which has 110.5 acres (44.7 ha). The park features a pond with two islands, and is also the location of Tracy Aviary.
, children's play areas, picnic areas, large grassy areas, horseshoe pits
, a swimming pool, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, a jogging path, seasonal amusement rides and a greenhouse
. Other seasonal activities and public facilities include paddle boats, recreational games, and festivals. It is a popular jogging, rollerblading and cycling location.
Liberty Park is the site of Salt Lake City's Pioneer Day fireworks display on the 24th of July.
Large crowds gather in the park on Sundays during the spring, summer, and early fall for Drum circles that last all day. An assortment of people, pets (primarily dogs), musical instruments and dance styles merge every Sunday at the park.
A sculpture/fountain models the Jordan River
and its canyon tributaries
. In the summertime children can play in the water fountain.
, who planted varieties of mulberry, cottonwood and other trees. In pioneer days it was known as Mill Farm, Forest Park and Locust Patch. In 1881, Salt Lake City purchased the land from the Young estate. Also in 1881 the city held a public competition for the park's landscape design. Joseph Don Carlos Young, Utah first academically trained architect and a son of Brigham Young, won the competition which included a $100 premium. On June 17, 1882 the 80 acres rectangular parcel was introduced as a recreational area and officially named Liberty Park.
A few historic buildings and markers are located throughout the park.
The Chase Home Museum of Folk Arts is located in one of the historic buildings in the park, admission is free.
A city zoo once operated within the park, but was relocated and became the Hogle Zoo
in 1931. In 1938 the Tracy Aviary opened.
into the Red Butte Creek
from a Chevron Corporation
pipeline. The spill prompted the closure of Liberty Park as oil spread to the nearby Jordan River
. 150 to 200 birds, many of them Canada geese
, came in contact with the oil and were taken to Hogle Zoo
to be cleaned. Officials have advised residents that humans and animals should avoid water access points along Liberty Park, the Jordan River and Red Butte Canyon.
Urban park
An urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
. It is the city's second-largest public park, at 80 acres (32.4 ha), being surpassed only by Sugarhouse Park which has 110.5 acres (44.7 ha). The park features a pond with two islands, and is also the location of Tracy Aviary.
Facilities
Public facilities include playgrounds, restrooms, bowery, concession standConcession stand
A concession stand , snack kiosk or snack bar is the term used to refer to a place where patrons can purchase snacks or food at a cinema, fair, stadium, or other entertainment venue. Some events or venues contract out the right to sell food to third parties...
, children's play areas, picnic areas, large grassy areas, horseshoe pits
Horseshoes
Horseshoes is an outdoor game played between two people using four horseshoes and two throwing targets set in a sandbox area. The game is played by the players alternating turns tossing horseshoes at stakes in the ground, which are traditionally placed 40 feet apart...
, a swimming pool, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, a jogging path, seasonal amusement rides and a greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
. Other seasonal activities and public facilities include paddle boats, recreational games, and festivals. It is a popular jogging, rollerblading and cycling location.
Liberty Park is the site of Salt Lake City's Pioneer Day fireworks display on the 24th of July.
Large crowds gather in the park on Sundays during the spring, summer, and early fall for Drum circles that last all day. An assortment of people, pets (primarily dogs), musical instruments and dance styles merge every Sunday at the park.
A sculpture/fountain models the Jordan River
Jordan River (Utah)
The Jordan River in the U.S. state of Utah is a river about long. Regulated by pumps at its headwaters at Utah Lake, it flows northward through the Salt Lake Valley and empties into the Great Salt Lake. Four of Utah's five largest cities—Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan and...
and its canyon tributaries
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
. In the summertime children can play in the water fountain.
Tracy Aviary
Tracy Aviary is located on 8 acres (3.2 ha) of land in Liberty Park. A Salt Lake City banker Russell Lord Tracy founded Tracy Aviary when he donated his private bird collection to Salt Lake City and its children. Open to the public since 1938, Tracy Aviary maintains a collection of approximately 400 birds representing about 135 species. Many of these birds are considered rare or endangered.History
In 1860 the land became the property of Brigham YoungBrigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, who planted varieties of mulberry, cottonwood and other trees. In pioneer days it was known as Mill Farm, Forest Park and Locust Patch. In 1881, Salt Lake City purchased the land from the Young estate. Also in 1881 the city held a public competition for the park's landscape design. Joseph Don Carlos Young, Utah first academically trained architect and a son of Brigham Young, won the competition which included a $100 premium. On June 17, 1882 the 80 acres rectangular parcel was introduced as a recreational area and officially named Liberty Park.
A few historic buildings and markers are located throughout the park.
The Chase Home Museum of Folk Arts is located in one of the historic buildings in the park, admission is free.
A city zoo once operated within the park, but was relocated and became the Hogle Zoo
Hogle Zoo
Utah's Hogle Zoo is a zoo located in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the state's largest zoo, housing animals from diverse ecosystems. It is located at the mouth of Emigration Canyon....
in 1931. In 1938 the Tracy Aviary opened.
Red Butte Creek oil spill
In June 2010, an estimated 20,000 gallons of oil spilledOil spill
An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially marine areas, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term is mostly used to describe marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters...
into the Red Butte Creek
Red Butte Creek
Red Butte Creek is a small stream whose headwaters are found in the northeast part of Salt Lake County. It flows west through the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, by the University of Utah, Fort Douglas and flows southwesterly through Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park before forming a confluence with...
from a Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
pipeline. The spill prompted the closure of Liberty Park as oil spread to the nearby Jordan River
Jordan River (Utah)
The Jordan River in the U.S. state of Utah is a river about long. Regulated by pumps at its headwaters at Utah Lake, it flows northward through the Salt Lake Valley and empties into the Great Salt Lake. Four of Utah's five largest cities—Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan and...
. 150 to 200 birds, many of them Canada geese
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
, came in contact with the oil and were taken to Hogle Zoo
Hogle Zoo
Utah's Hogle Zoo is a zoo located in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the state's largest zoo, housing animals from diverse ecosystems. It is located at the mouth of Emigration Canyon....
to be cleaned. Officials have advised residents that humans and animals should avoid water access points along Liberty Park, the Jordan River and Red Butte Canyon.