Utah Gossip

KSL recently had a story about the growing problems facing Pioneer Park, located in downtown Salt Lake. Police say with the increasing warmer weather, drug deals are on the rise, and just this past Saturday, a homeless man was severely beaten by two other people (maybe they were just disgruntled because they hadn’t had a fix). Police say the park is no worse than it was before, but nearby business owners say otherwise; though it has always been plagued by drugs and homelessness, today it is much more so, more than the SLC police are equipped to deal with. Now, my favorite part of the story was when the police said if they continue to increase their efforts, they expect the drug deals to drop and “people will feel safe spending time in the troubled park.” Seriously?

I’m not a native Utahn, but I have lived here for almost five years, long enough to hear about Pioneer Park’s reputation long before I ever saw it. Props to KSL (aka Captain Obvious) for pointing out that Pioneer Park is inhabited by nothing more than local hoodlums, but how is this newsworthy? Haven’t we always known that? And does anyone really think people (that is law abiding, job holding, drug free citizens) will feel safe spending time in the park? I doubt it. I do not know anyone who would be willing to take their families and kids there. Parks are for enjoying the outdoors and relaxation, not meant to be a crash course in drug running and hygienic abstinence. I know that may sound callous and judgmental but other than policing the area, Salt Lake has yet to make drastic changes to clean up the park. There are said to be plans in the works to revamp Pioneer Park, to add a dog park, a new plaza, and eventually even a performing stage. I’ll believe it when I see it.