Pioneer Park CLR

Io LandArch is in the process of completing a Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) for Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City. A CLR is a document format developed by the National Park Service to record the history of a site, determine the significance of the landscape, and to establish and treatment standards. 

In the case of Pioneer Park, we identified five periods of significance including the Indigenous, the Old Fort, Territorial, Americanization, and Civic Periods, which all have some remnant influences in the landscape of Pioneer Park today. Pioneer Park is most recognized for its use as a fort and temporary housing for Mormon pioneers when they first arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. The block was one of only three public squares designated in the original plat of the city. 

Today the park serves as important green space for the surrounding community. The CLR report will work towards preserving the park as public open space, and guiding future improvements that will honor the history of the space and preserve the park’s historically significant and character defining features.