Rose Park, Salt Lake City
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Coordinates: 40°47′N 111°55′W / 40.783°N 111.917°W
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Rose Park is a neighborhood located in the northwest area of Salt Lake City, Utah and is among the most ethnically diverse areas in Utah[citation needed]. Its name comes from the area's original developer, who arranged part of the area's streets in the shape of several roses, with one of its main streets, American Beauty Drive, acting as a long rose stem. This area's original roof shingles were red or green and its street names all feature rose varieties[citation needed]. Rose Park residents enjoy a very short commute (less than 5 minutes) to downtown and many recreational amenities.
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[edit] Boundaries
The Rose Park area is defined as west of I-15, north of 600 North, and east of Redwood Road. Rose Park extends north to the city limits, which is the boundary between Salt Lake and Davis counties.
Rose Park lies north of the Poplar Grove and Glendale neighborhoods and west of the northwest slope of Capitol Hill. The media often confuses Rose Park with other area neighborhoods but its actual boundaries are relatively small and the neighborhood is made up mainly of 1950s era red brick homes.
The entire neighborhood falls within the boundary of West High School, one of Utah's largest and oldest high schools.
[edit] History
In the 1940s and 50s, Rose Park was marketed as a reasonably priced division with larger plots than older Salt Lake City neighborhoods like the Avenues. After World War II, population and growth in the area increased as vacant plots were bought up and homes built. Like the early residents of Murray, many were non-Mormon blue-collar workers, although Rose Park's laborers worked for railroads instead of smelters. More recently, one can find accountants, business managers, engineers, real estate agents and brokers, architects, and police officers among Rose Park residents.
Many homes are now being renovated by young families who have moved into the area. It is one of the only neighborhoods near downtown Salt Lake City that is still affordable to first-time home buyers (estimated $100,000-$140,000). The homes are small by today's standards and are generally constructed of brick with mature trees. Trees (including many varieties of fruit trees) were planted in the neighborhood by young WWII era families. Rose Park now boasts some of the city's largest and most densely spaced trees.
[edit] Crime
For the last several decades, Rose Park has suffered from a negative reputation. Rose Park associated with the Glendale rivalry, has suffered from crime over the years due to gang related violence. Rose Park known as the red neighborhood, home of "Bloods", and "Nortenos". Who both share the color red to represent there individuality. As for Glendale who is home for "Crips", and "Surenos". Is the blue neighborhood for both gangs who share the color. This polarization of color affiliation has transformed a formerly friendly rivalry into a deadly one which has contributed greatly to the violent crime rate of the affected areas. As the violence rages on Salt Lake City Police have began to patrol both areas more frequently, to limit the violence. Although police patrol the area, the violence seems to continue growing at a fast rate, with many residents concerned about their safety.
Many Salt Lake residents did not realize the extent of Utah gang activity until the early 1990's. On Sept. 1, 1993, 17-year-old Aaron Chapman was shot and killed while leaving a concert at the Triad Center Amphitheatre, less than one block away from West High School. Asi Mohi, a 17-year-old football star at West, was arrested and eventually convicted of the murder.
Just two weeks later on Sept. 15, 1993, a 20-year-old man was shot at the Utah State Fair. The victim survived. Two 16-year-old boys, one already known as a gang member and the other known to associate with gangs, were arrested. Suddenly, quiet Salt Lake City, where serious gang problems were only heard about in the headlines of newspapers of other states, was now facing what some were calling a gang crisis.
Utah leaders jumped on the bandwagon. After the state fair shooting, then-Salt Lake Police Chief Ruben Ortega announced he would be cracking down on gangs before they became a major problem. The next day, Gov. Mike Leavitt announced that during an upcoming special session of the the Legislature, he would request lawmakers to address the gang issue. Former Salt Lake City Mayor Deedee Corradini proposed several new city ordinances to curb gun violence. Gang activity decreased until 2002, when there was a sudden upturn.[1]
Metro Gang Unit Detective Rick Simonelli says he has seen things worsen just over the past few years. Even with gang education programs in schools and communities, he says it's not enough; parents and friends need to get involved.
Culture The neighborhood is one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse areas of Utah. In the 1980s and 1990s Rose Park became home to increasing numbers of non-European immigrants due to modest house prices.[1] These immigrants came chiefly from Latin America. While Central American Latinos still dominate immigration statistics in the area, immigrants from areas such as Spain, Brazil, Africa, the Middle East, Cuba, and Burma continue to move to this area. While Rose Park continues to benefit from immigrants of diverse cultures, many young professionals of European descent have also purchased homes in the area.
Super Fund Site In the early 1980s a hazardous site existed in Rose Park near Rosewood Park and south of the Rose Park Golf Course. The state of Utah petitioned the United States Environmental Protection Agency to add it to their list of Superfund cleanup sites. The agency agreed and in 1982 it was added to the superfund list as "Rose Park Sludge Pit."
Local refineries dumped waste products in the sludge pit from the 1930s until 1957. The acidic sludge contained carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sulfur dioxide posing a threat to groundwater and surrounding organisms. This was particularly unnerving because much of the municipal water in Rose Park comes from scattered wells.
Amoco oil company was potentially liable for the site and agreed to clean it up in 1985. The solution entailed the construction of a slurry wall around and under the sludge pit to avoid groundwater contamination. A clay cap was also placed on top of the sludge pit and topped with grass.
Since these improvements, the site has passed all of its five-year reviews with the solution deemed "protective of human health and the environment."
[edit] Community
Rose Park benefits from an active community council. The Rose Park Community Council is made up of an elected body of volunteers who serve the interests of Rose Park and the community. The purpose of this council is to provide community input and information to various city departments. Community councils are encouraged to make recommendations to the city on all matters affecting the city or each organization's particular community or neighborhood. The council holds a monthly meeting, to which the public is encouraged to attend, the first Wednesday of each month, at 6:30pm, in the Day Riverside Library (located at 1105 W. 1000 North). The community council also maintains www.RoseParkNews.com to keep residents informed.
Rose Park is a moderately walkable neighborhood with shortcuts allowing easy access to the parks, churches and other amenities in the area. Within the Rose Park boundaries are found:
- Four parks including part of the Jordan River Parkway, tennis courts, soccer and baseball fields, a skate park, pavilions, and many playgrounds
- A public library and eco-garden
- A large community garden
- The Rose Park Golf Course
- Smith's Grocery and Gas
- Small Mexican restaurants and tiendas
- Several church buildings of various faiths
- Easy access to I-15, I-215, and the Legacy Parkway.
Rose Park holds an annual community festival each spring. Information about this festival can be found at http://roseparkfestival.org.
[edit] References
- ^ Joe Baird and Tim Sullivan, "Here Comes the Neighborhood; Growing diversity brings pains, hopes to SLC community; Rose Park Is Changing Too Fast for Some," The Salt Lake Tribune, February 1, 2003, pg. A1
[edit] External links
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