Parts of Jordan River Trail closes during state fair to curb drug activity

SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City will close parts of the Jordan River Trail during the Utah State Fair in an attempt to curb crime.

The closed section spans from the Northwest Recreation Center on 300 North to North Temple.

Salt Lake City’s Director of Homeless Policy and Outreach, Andrew Johnston said it’s been a problem area for a while now.

“We’ve had a lot of problems,” he explained during a Salt Lake City Council work meeting this week. “Still a lot of illicit activity up there, and it’s a pretty hidden area as many of you know. It’s hard to get a lot of law enforcement in there all the time, with eyes on a lot of hiding places and issues up there.” 

The temporary chain link fences are closing the bridge that connects a parking lot to the fairgrounds. The city has already been allocating funds to make changes under the bridge.

“There’s been a recreating of that area,” Johnston said. “Some new riprap in there to ensure there’s not erosion, and also not a lot of folks congregating under that bridge for illicit purposes.”

Critics worry that crime will pour out elsewhere along the trail or in the area. Johnston said they’ve already prepared for this possibility.

“The state public safety department is also doing a lot of work in there during the State Fair outside the fairgrounds to help us out on the trail. Salt Lake PD is working on North Temple itself and around the exterior neighborhoods but also inside the fair this year.”

The city and state fairgrounds said the closures are for the best to help reduce illicit and drug activity.

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