Goal : Use communications and messaging to improve visitor experience, wayfinding, point of interest identification, and education
Effective communication between the entities operating in and around the Jordan River Parkway and the public contribute to many of the other goals highlighted in this document. Signs, maps, and electronic communications can be used to encourage safe, orderly, and fun use of the Parkway and can also be used as powerful educational tools to foster a deeper understanding and stewardship of the Jordan River Parkway.
1. ENCOURAGE UNIFORM SIGN DESIGN THROUGHOUT THE PARKWAY
While the Jordan River Trail plays a large role in the regional active transportation system, there are several areas of opportunity to increase connections and some significant barriers to circulation that should be addressed. Adding connections to regional trails was one of the most popular transportation improvements identified by the 2020 Blueprint Jordan River Refresh Survey. Developing more eastwest connections from neighboring communities and regional transportation nodes, such as TRAX stations, will support the use of active and public transportation and enhance accessibility for all.
STRATEGIES:
- Work with neighboring communities throughout the Parkway to develop consistent sign standards.
i. Consider using the Jordan River Parkway Wayfinding Signage Plan as a template for sign design and placement throughout the Parkway. - Balance consistent design across the Parkway with highlighting the identity and unique assets of local communities.
ii. Provide some flexibility in sign design standards or encourage communities to develop unique local signage to accompany Jordan River signs. - Maintain a list of vendors that are familiar with sign design used in the Parkway and any relevant standards or guidelines.
2. IMPROVE DIRECTIONAL AND WAYFINDING SIGNAGE
People traveling and recreating in the Jordan River Parkway depend on reliable directional and wayfinding signs. In addition to aiding in navigation, wayfinding signs and location markers can improve emergency response by providing more precise information about the location of incidents.
STRATEGIES:
- Design and install wayfinding and informational signage on all trails and pathways that efficiently allows users to navigate the trail system. Include signage highlighting connections to regional trails.
- Install additional wayfinding elements identified in the Jordan River Wayfinding Master Plan.
- Provide additional pavement markings or signs to delineate the main trail from connecting and side trails. Markings can highlight the Jordan River Trail and the Golden Spoke trail network.
- In coordination with municipalities and counties, provide signage directing people to the Parkway (specifically trailheads) in nearby communities and transportation routes.
i. Install signs with north/south coordinates along the trail to improve wayfinding and public safety response
ii. Install ½ mile interval pavement markings in between mile markers throughout the Parkway, as described in the Jordan River Parkway Wayfinding Signage Plan.
iii. Install uniform mile markers in Utah County and Davis County.
iv. Coordinate with public safety agencies to use location markers to improve response.
Example: In 2019, Salt Lake City installed mini markers on existing light posts along the trail, with the aim to provide a marker within eyesight of every spot along the Jordan River Trail. The markers are named starting with the mile, followed by a sequential letter of the alphabet until the next mile (ex: 49.A, 49.B, 49.C). Public safety has a database of the exact location of each marker to use during response.
v. Explore opportunities to use mile markers or similar signs to encourage health challenges. Color coding or other design features, along with programming, could help attract users to health challenge activities. - Increase signage to identify boat portage zones for river trips.
3. MAKE WATER QUALITY DATA MORE ACCESSIBLE TO RIVER USERS
In the 2020 Blueprint Jordan River Refresh Survey, 86 percent of respondents indicated that if up-to-date water quality conditions were publicly available and expressed in terms of their impacts to human health, it would significantly influence their decision to participate in water-based recreation activities. People may be interested in information about current water quality even if they are not planning to enter the River itself, since it is one of the top factors that deters people from visiting the Parkway or from visiting more often.
STRATEGIES:
- Explore opportunities and partnerships to create an online dashboard and living information stations along the River with current water quality and suggestions related to appropriate use and health impacts. Content should be targeted to recreational users, but there is also an opportunity to use this information to educate about the factors that influence water quality, how water quality affects ecosystem function, and build support for investing in water quality improvements.
i. Changes in water quality are largely seasonal so a data lag of a couple of days may not be an issue in most circumstances. Forecasting or more frequent monitoring may be needed to provide useful information regarding changes in water quality related to algae blooms and runoff events.
ii. Include monitoring and alerts for anglers regarding the safety of consuming fish from the river based on mercury and PCB levels and harmful algae blooms.
• Websites and apps providing current information and recommendations about air quality, such as AirNow and air.utah.gov have been largely successful. Consider providing similar information as these sites including current conditions, relevant standards, behavioral recommendations, and forecasts.
4. PROVIDE REGULATORY SIGNAGE AND MESSAGING FOR SOCIAL GUIDELINES, LOCAL REGULATIONS, AND SAFETY
Regulatory signage and messaging can help prevent user conflicts, injury, habitat degradation, and more. Placement and visibility are key to ensure that the information is noticed by visitors to the Parkway.
STRATEGIES:
- Install signs highlighting appropriate visitor etiquette and discouraging disruptive or destructive behavior
i. Post advanced warning signage and speed limits before sharp curves, underpasses, and other potentially hazardous locations.
ii. Provide signage and messaging about rights-of-way, yielding, and clearly identify separated portions of trail for pedestrians, cyclists, and horses, where available. Bikes (and other wheeled vehicles) should yield to pedestrians on all sections of the Jordan River Trail.
iii. Post reminders that the Parkway is patrolled for safety issues.
iv. Consider additional dos and don’ts messaging informed by issues observed or reported in the Parkway.
v. Provide general information for social and safety guidelines on the Jordan River Commission and other recreation websites.
vi. Consult with Bike Utah on regulatory messaging related to cycling and user conflicts. - Consistently post contact information for law enforcement, maintenance entities, homeless service providers, and other important contacts. Place signage near location markers to improve location reporting and response.
- Provide signage and messaging about permanent and seasonal river hazards.
i. Collaborate with city and county emergency management departments to boost messaging for seasonal hazards related to high flows in spring.
ii. Provide links to emergency management departments on the Jordan River Commission website. - Explore opportunities to collaborate with UDOT for assistance with sign installations along the river through the Region 2 Maintenance Engineer and Region 2 Stormwater Program Coordinator, especially between plow season and July 1.
- Provide signs in parking lots discouraging visitors from keeping valuables in their cars.
- Organize and host anti-littering campaigns.
- Educate visitors about the risks of releasing pets or wildlife from other areas into the
Parkway, including messaging from the Utah Division of Wildlife Services “Don’t Ditch a
Fish” campaign.
5. PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE, FACILITIES, AND ONLINE CONTENT TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP
Interpretive signs use images and language to help people understand and connect with natural, historical, cultural, or other features in the Parkway. Interpretive signs in various conditions are available throughout the Jordan River Parkway. Potential topics for new content should be the Jordan River ecosystems; native and invasive plants; the connections between the Jordan River, its tributaries, and the Great Salt Lake; the two-way relationship between human activity and the river; and information on indigenous peoples and historical uses of the Parkway. Updating and replacing out of date or faded signs and adding new interpretive signs can continue to advance the educational and stewardship goals of the Parkway.
STRATEGIES:
- Coordinate with the Jordan River Foundation and municipalities to find new locations for interpretive signs.
- Collaborate with education partners such as the Tracy Aviary, Hogle Zoo, and Hutchings Museum on generating interpretive content.
- Use signs to direct people to electronic communications, interpretive materials, wildlife field guides, and virtual tours. Online information is available on the websites of the Jordan River Commission and Jordan River Foundation, as well as some educational and public partners. “Fauna of the Jordan River Corridor” published by the Salt Lake Fish and Game Foundation lists the common vertebrates found along the river.
- Keep viewsheds, legibility, and maintenance in mind when planning and installing interpretive signs.
- Consider opportunities to create art and education stations along the River that have interpretive signage and art installations related to the content of the signs.
i. Explore opportunities to use the Utah Outdoor Classroom Grant, administered by the Utah office of Outdoor Recreation, to support the development of permanent infrastructure such as amphitheaters, pergolas, and pollinator gardens. - Provide interpretive materials in multiple languages. Focus on the most common languages used in nearby communities.
- Encourage visitors to participate in community science projects, where available.
- Remove or replace older signs that are damaged or unreadable.
6. UPDATE AND IMPROVE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE MAPS OF THE PARKWAY
In addition to their utility for navigating the Jordan River Parkway, maps can also educate and inspire visitors.
STRATEGIES:
- Provide current printed and interactive online maps with trails, educational opportunities, ecosystems and natural features, facilities, and safety information.
i. Work with educational partners such as the Tracy Aviary to create an “ecosystem map” (online and/or hardcopy) of the river highlighting significant ecological features, including bird/migration areas, water sources, vegetation, animals, etc.
ii. Create a recreation map that highlights trails, facilities, educational signage, parks, community fisheries, etc.
iii. Provide an artwork map to encourage artwork tours of the Jordan River Parkway.
iv. Update and promote the digital water trail map. - Encourage collaboration between map making entities. Share and promote existing maps and new maps as they are developed.
i. Maps, such as those developed for the Salt Lake County Jordan River Water Trail Master Plan, may be relevant to a wider audience than the detailed plan itself. - Provide each map in multiple languages
- Accompany maps with related information about recreation opportunities and popular activities, getting to the Parkway, safety, etc. Also use maps to direct people to online sources of information, such as the Jordan River Commission website.
Goal : Provide experiential learning opportunities
The Jordan River Parkway has enormous potential to be used for experiential learning. For many residents of the Wasatch Front, the Parkway provides the most convenient access to natural ecosystems and open space. Nearby schools may use the Jordan River Parkway and associated resources as a valuable tool for educational enrichment. Additional educational programming can be used to educate and engage people of all ages.
1. ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE JORDAN RIVER AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE
Integrating the Jordan River into water education can help students develop a connection with the Jordan River, and real-world, observational learning may help students better understand and retain information.
STRATEGIES:
- Promote the use of science curricula that meet state and federal standards and incorporate the Jordan River into lesson plans and experiential learning.
i. General water education curricula that meet these standards are available from Project Learning Tree and Project Wet and could be easily adopted to use the Jordan River as a real world example. The Utah Society for Environmental Education may be able to offer curriculum and other materials at a discounted rate to Utah educators.
ii. Utah and Jordan River specific curricula and resources are available from a variety of local educational groups, and more may be developed in the future. The Jordan River Commission has developed teaching toolkits for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. The Salt Lake County Stormwater Coalition developed the 2020 Stormwater Curriculum Guide and provides links to other resources and curricula.
iii. Identify schools within walking distance of the Jordan River and prioritize these schools first. - Explore opportunities to develop and use Jordan River-focused curricula that incorporate topics other than physical science, including social studies, health, language arts, and math.
- Work with community partners to train educators to use related curricula and resources. The Utah Society for Environmental Education may be able to offer training at a discounted rate to Utah educators.
- Coordinate educational efforts between local organizations and educators.
i. Consider creating a comprehensive online interface where classes—across all school districts— can share resources. Features could potentially include a dashboard where students and teachers can share data and other information they’ve collected through class projects and activities, as well as a platform for sharing virtual teaching content and lesson plans. - Encourage local universities and colleges to engage in student and faculty projects focused on the Jordan River Parkway.
i. Master’s students in the City & Metropolitan Planning Program at the University of Utah complete a year-long professional project and can help with research or furthering and implementing strategies highlighted in the Blueprint. There are typically more than 30 projects per year and students benefit from doing applied work.
2. SUPPORT AND DEVELOP PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IN COORDINATION WITH PARTNERS
Learning opportunities in the Jordan River Parkway aren’t limited to students. Educational programming for visitors of all ages can help people to better understand and care for the River.
STRATEGIES:
- Work with partners to develop a “science speakers bureau” where biologists, restoration practitioners, and other scientists could speak to students and assist with field activities.
- Explore opportunities to enable youth to be drivers of educational programming.
i. The Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) provides a model for youth-led educational programs that can be applied to the Jordan River Parkway. Middle school and high school students are given resources and training by the NHMU to teach younger students about natural science topics. The students develop leadership skills, build friendships, and develop a passion for science. - Ensure educational experiences are equitable across economic and demographic lines, and that all students have access to quality Jordan River resources, content, sampling/data gathering tools, and recreational gear. Provide all educational curriculum, programs, and field experiences in additional languages beyond English commonly spoken in communities along the Parkway.
- Expand and promote educational resources on MyJordanRiver.org.
Goal: Support art, placemaking, and community engagement
Installing art and aesthetic design elements in the Jordan River Parkway can help to highlight the ecological, recreational, and historic relevance of the Jordan River and provide for the enjoyment of its visitors. Public art, infrastructure design, and art programming should be developed with natural, cultural, and historic contexts in mind.
1. ENCOURAGE PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL ART THROUGHOUT THE PARKWAY TO IMPROVE STEWARDSHIP AND COMMUNITY PRIDE
STRATEGIES:
- Identify opportunity areas for art installations, such as bridges and tunnels. Focus art in developed and boundary areas; natural areas may be a less appropriate home for art. An exception to the development of art in natural areas may be the use of art to cover up manmade structures with art that embodies the natural setting.
- Provide opportunities for unrestricted or minimally restricted artistic expression while encouraging new artwork to enhance the identity of the Jordan River Parkway and surrounding communities.
- Grant widely available RFPs to both mainstream, alternative, and community art groups that specify the goals for art contributions on the Jordan River Parkway.
- Partner with local writers, such as Utah’s Poet Laureate or university/college faculty, to create a poetry and/or story telling trail along the river. Consider etching words into stone or otherwise highlighting
them in the parkway, as well as in online and other communications. - Pursue grant funding for art projects through sources such as the Utah Department of Transportation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
- Create opportunities for community led and educational public art with local students and other community groups.
i. Encourage seasonal and/or annual school participation by holding nature art contests to contribute to the art installations along the river. Rotate installations periodically. - Expand artwork offerings outside of Salt Lake City by connecting with local arts councils.
- Allow graffiti art on certain walls, whether permanent or at events.
2. ENGAGE THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE PARKWAY TO INFLUENCE ART, PLACEMAKING, LAND USE, AND OTHER FUTURE CHANGES IN THE PARKWAY
STRATEGIES:
- Utilize community engagement best practices to ensure local identity is highlighted along the Jordan River Parkway.
- Use the North American Association for Environmental Education’s Community Engagement: Guidelines for Excellence as a reference when engaging local communities.
- Promote attendance to community engagement trainings from the Utah Society of Environmental Education (USEE).
- Focus on culturally relevant practices when planning and facilitating community engagement. Extra effort may be needed to connect with people with lower incomes or black and indigenous people of color.
