Bridge over river Bridge over river

WELCOME TO THE EDGE

ON the RIVER’S EDGE

IDEAS COMPETITION

An Ideas Competition to reimagine recreation, commerce, conservation and life along the Jordan River.

The purpose of the competition is to re-envision a mid-valley section of the Jordan River Parkway, an urban greenway running through the heart of Salt Lake County, Utah. Local governments and community groups are coming together to encourage big ideas for how more residents and visitors can access and enjoy the Jordan River and surrounding areas.

Ducks

the CHALLENGE

This juried competition invites US-based teams (architects, landscape architects, designers, urban planners, engineers, planning/design students, contractors, etc.) to submit innovative and creative ideas that balance conservation with development, link residents and visitors to an ecologically diverse nature corridor, create year-round recreational opportunities, and foster vibrant social gathering places.

Tackle the range of challenges on your own or form multidisciplinary teams. Bring innovative ideas that demonstrate your team’s unique talents and the best ideas for the competition.

These challenges (updated since they were originally posted on this website) form the foundation of the criteria that will be used by the jurors to choose the competition award winners; People’s Choice Award finalists, Jury Award and Innovation Awards.

ACTIVATION

park bench

Create places, not just designs. Activation is more than a physical space, more than a destination. Ideas for activation should add up to more than the sum of the parts; diversity of activities, density and frequency. Activation requires new uses and users, differing but complementary scales, opportunities to gather, and ways for unique users to relate along the river corridor.

Activation Innovation Award underwritten by the James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation.

CONNECTIVITY

 people and arrows

Access is key and successful edges are porous. Connect the parkway to the surrounding communities, emphasizing the opportunities for integration and interaction rather than simply geographic proximity. Cultivate community ties and a sense of stewardship. Consider multiple modes of access and circulation for people and wildlife.

Connectivity Innovation Award underwritten by Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility.

RECREATION

Bicycle

Multi-use should be the watchword. Consider the waterway, formal trails, passive use areas, active use infrastructure and multi-use potential. Explore year-round recreation opportunities on a socially equitable basis. Design ideas are important but we’re also looking for cutting edge recreation-based business models that could be located within the competition area.

Recreation Innovation Award underwritten by the James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation.

CONSERVATION

Heart with Plant

Protect and enhance what’s at the heart of the parkway, the natural corridor. Consider the variety of habitats, the hydrologic cycle, river flow, wetlands, invasive species, native species, wildlife (existing and potential), and the buffers necessary to protect the critical ecological functions and features. Balance the aesthetics, natural elements and safety in an ecologically sustainable way.

Conservation Innovation Award underwritten by Mark Miller Subaru in partnership with Recycle Utah.

ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

Chart pointing up

Greenways are fuel for economic prosperity, it’s conventional wisdom. Consider the positive relationship between well-designed greenways and critical economic indicators. Think about ideas on the spectrum of recreation-oriented, mixed-use, and greenway-supportive bases. Explore development that embraces the surrounding context and is adaptable for future opportunities.

Economic Prosperity Innovation Award underwritten by Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility.

SCORING

Competition entries will be evaluated, scored and ranked by the Jury based on the objectives outlined above and using the following criteria:
Criterion Available Points
Compliance with all submission requirements. Pass/Fail
Innovation and Creativity. Original ideas that capture the imagination and advance our thinking about the challenges. 15
Feasibility and Practicality. Ideas that are achievable and respect environmental, ownership, and regulatory constraints. 15
Activation. Ideas that draw people to the corridor through interactive, engaging, and diverse means. 20
Connectivity. Ideas that foster connection to, through and along the corridor. 20
Recreation. Ideas for varied types of quality recreation for all to enjoy. 20
Conservation. Ideas that balance aesthetics, nature and safety in an ecologically sustainable way. 20
Economic Prosperity. Ideas that adopt principles of thriving economic prosperity, including overall improvement for diverse communities. 20
Total available points: 130
River

the COMPETITION AREA

The River flows north through the county; from the headwaters at Utah Lake to the north border of Salt Lake county where it eventually empties into the Great Salt Lake.

The competition area includes a 3.5 mile stretch of the river and is broken into five segments. Teams can focus in one or more geographic segments or present ideas that span the entirety of the competition area.

Map of Project

the PRIZES

Entries will be judged on the criteria listed above and the organizers anticipate distributing:

JURY AWARD

Money Bag

$20,000

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Ribbon

$4,000

INNOVATION AWARD

Trophy

$2,500
EACH

(One for each challenge topic)
(Chosen by Jury)

The jury will choose the most creative and innovative entries as competition finalists and the public is encouraged to vote for the People’s Choice Award winner.

It will be possible for a single team to win multiple awards.

Ideas from this competition may be used in master planning and for other government purposes, but the competition does not include a contract award component (please see Terms & Conditions for details).

Bridge over river

the WINNERS

View All Submissions

JURY AWARD & CONNECTIVITY INNOVATION AWARD

Weave

Project Board 1 Project Board 2Larger Image

Project Narrative

Blalock & Partners (Salt Lake City, Utah) and lo|ci (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Kevin Blalock, Brian Backe, Sean Baron, Chad Parker, Kelly Garfield, Dugan Frehner, Jennifer Lindley, Michael Budge, David Durfee, McKenna Drew



PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD & CONSERVATION INNOVATION AWARD

Jordan Rising

Project Board 1Larger Image Project Board 2Larger Image

Project Narrative

MIG Seattle, Washington

Brice Maryman, Rick Barrett, Lauren Schmidt, Laura Moran, Mark Brandi, Davin Dawson, Jordan Lewis, Victor Sandoval, Dean Alker, Kyra Czerwinski, Casey Howard, Roman Yanke, Melanie Davies, Cindy Mendoza, Kim Donahue, Ed Canalin, Lia Andrews, Mark de la Torre, Chase Mullen



ACTIVATION INNOVATION AWARD

Live + Work + Recreate

Project Board 1Larger Image Project Board 2 Larger Image

Project Narrative

AJC Architects (Salt Lake City, Utah) Steven Gilbert
and
ArcSitio Design (Salt Lake City, Utah) Steve Simmons
and
Bonneville Research (Salt Lake City, Utah) Bob Springmeyer



RECREATION INNOVATION AWARD

Reimagine the River's Edge

Project Bard 1Larger Image Project Board 2Larger Image

Project Narrative

Landform Design Group (Salt Lake City, Utah)
and
Place Alliance Northeast (Amherst, Massachusetts)

Jason King, Jeff Richardson, Derek Lamb, Benji Williamson , Becky Merkley, Sara Lawler, Andy Bohne, Jeffrey Dawson



Park near River

MEET the JURY


Jenny Wilson

Mayor Jenny Wilson,
Salt Lake County

Mayor Cherie Wood

Mayor Cherie Wood,
South Salt Lake

Spencer J Cox

Spencer J. Cox,
Utah Lieutenant Governor

Sarah Jack Hinners

Sarah Jack Hinners,
Director, Center for Ecological Planning and Design University of Utah

Mayor Jeff Silvestrini

Mayor Jeff Silvestrini,
Millcreek

Stephen Goldsmith

Stephen Goldsmith,
Board Chairman, Seven Canyons Trust

Mayor Kristie Overson, Taylorsville

Scott Peters

Scott Peters,
PLA, ASLA, Principal, EPG and Jordan River Foundation Board

Brandon Stoddard

Brandon Stoddard,
Director, Hall Global Entrepreneurship Center, Weber State University

Jan Striefel

Jan Striefel,
PLA, FASLA, FAICP, Founder, Landmark Design

Bruce Brierley

Bruce Brierley,
CEO, Maxtec

Ron Bigelow

Mayor Ron Bigelow,
West Valley City

Snowy bridge

COMPETITION ORGANIZERS

The Organizers have a direct stake in the success of the river corridor through land ownership, regulator authority, ongoing investments, and future commitments. They share a common vision for the parkway; one that balances conservation with development, links residents and visitors to the natural world, creates diverse recreational opportunities, and becomes a place of community gathering and neighborhood revitalization.

Salt Lake County home
Jordan River Foundation logo

COMPETITION PARTNERS

Jordan River Commission logo
millcreek city logo

West Valley City logo
South Salt Lake logo

Taylorsville logo

COMPETITION SPONSORS

Sorenson Impact logo
Mark Miller Subaru logorecycle utah logo
utah department of natural resources
Salt Lake VAlley Water Reclamation Facility