| Liberty Park | |
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Aerial view of Liberty Park |
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Area | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| Created | 1882 |
| Status | Open all year |
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 ha), being surpassed only by Sugarhouse Park which has 110.5 acres (44.7 ha).[1] The park features a pond with two islands, and is also the location of Tracy Aviary.
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Public facilities include playgrounds, restrooms, bowery, concession stand, 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.[2][3]
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.
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.[4]
In 1860 the land became the property of Brigham Young, 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. [5] On June 17, 1882 the 80 acres rectangular parcel was introduced as a recreational area and officially named Liberty Park.[6]
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.[7]
A city zoo once operated within the park, but was relocated and became the Hogle Zoo in 1931. In 1938 the Tracy Aviary opened.
In June 2010, an estimated 20,000 gallons of oil spilled 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.[8] 150 to 200 birds, many of them Canada geese, came in contact with the oil and were taken to Hogle Zoo to be cleaned.[9] Officials have advised residents that humans and animals should avoid water access points along Liberty Park, the Jordan River and Red Butte Canyon.[10]
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Liberty_Park Liberty Park] at Wikimedia Commons
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