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Context of
REGIONAL CONTEXT
REGIONAL CONTEXT
Located directly south of downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, the City of South Salt Lake (SSLC) occupies a strategic position at a major transportation junction of interstates 15 and 80. The former goes from San Diego to the Canadian border and serves as Utah's main freeway, and the latter is a cross country expressway going from San Francisco to a suburb of New York City. At this junction, these interstates also meet a state highway that serves as a bypass of Salt Lake City for I-80 traffic.
The next exit to the east is for US 89, which serves as the major arterial for local north and southbound traffic. It is known locally as "State Street" because it leads to the Utah State Capitol.
Between I-15 and State Street, SSLC also contains Central Pointe TRAX station, which serves as a major junction of all light rail lines in Salt Lake County. The city also features multiple creeks, the most prominent is Mill creek. These creeks flow into the Jordan River, which forms the city's western boundary.
WHY WE NEED TREES
WHY WE NEED TREES
Because these major highways go through the city limits, many vehicles drive through it. This produces heat and carbon emissions which contribute to climate change. They also can cause residents to get heatstroke and similar diseases. While public transportation does provide an alternative to driving personal vehicles a short distance, mitigation is still needed for heat and carbon emitted by interstate traffic.
Our Solution: Plant Trees! Trees provide shade for pedestrians suffering from heat, and sequester carbon by breathing it in and storing it.
Photo Caption: This is a tree we planted in Fitts Park during our community engagement event. Read more about it at the bottom of our findings and suggestions page
LAND COVER CONTEXT
LAND COVER CONTEXT
South Salt Lake's location in Salt Lake County and it's Zoning map with the city limits and the commercial corridor highlighted with a dashed line.
With extensive urban development covering 94% of its land, SSLC’s land use divides into three categories which are industrial, commercial, and residential zones. Most single family homes in South Salt Lake are east of State Street. This is because with some exceptions, industrial and infrastructural uses are west of I-15, and commercial vendors such as stores and restaurants are encouraged to build along State Street, or between it and I-15. This area where commercial vendors are encouraged to build includes mixed use development, and is known as the "commercial corridor."
We recommend planting trees in residential neighborhoods and the commercial corridor, the latter of which has a greater need for trees because less trees have already been planted there than have been planted in the residential neighborhoods.
Developed, Open Space- areas with a mixture of some constructed materials, but mostly vegetation in the form of lawn grasses. These areas most commonly include large-lot single-family housing units, parks, golf courses, and vegetation planted in developed settings for recreation, erosion control, or aesthetic purposes.
Developed, Low Intensity- areas with a mixture of constructed materials and vegetation. These areas most commonly include single-family housing units.
Developed, Medium Intensity -areas with a mixture of constructed materials and vegetation. These areas most commonly include single-family housing units.
Developed High Intensity-highly developed areas where people reside or work in high numbers. Examples include apartment complexes, row houses and commercial/industrial.
South Salt Lake's land use map, according to data found on usgs.gov, with definitions of each type of use, according to mrlc.gov to the left (above on mobile).
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