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Olympic Legacy Park
Salt Lake City and Olympic organizers made it official today. They've decided against Pioneer Park in favor of Gallivan Plaza for the place the 2002 Winter Olympics will be honored for all time.
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(Aug. 24, 2002)------
WHAT WE WILL HAVE IS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER AND REMEMBER THE GAMES.
That place will be Gallivan Plaza--the downtown location of the multi-million dollar Olympic Legacy Park.
Salt Lake City and Olympic organizers made it official today.
They've decided against Pioneer Park in favor of Gallivan Plaza for the place the 2002 Winter Olympics will be honored for all time.
Government Specialist Richard Piatt is live at Gallivan Plaza with details:
Both Olympic organizers and the city say they're going to (*)enhance what's already here--a place for people to come relax, enjoy a concert.
But still, Gallivan Plaza is to undergo a major 'Olympic sized' transformation in the next year.
Gallivan Plaza was just created a few years ago, to the tune of millions of dollars.
Now, more enhancements are in store: 4-and-a-half-to-6-million dollars worth--paid for by Salt Lake Olympic Organizers.
A key feature: The famous Hoberman Arch.
The iris-like metal 'curtain' will be enclosed in glass; in constant motion as a work of art.
But the plans also call for an expanded stage for performances, for more trees, and of course an overall Olympic theme.
Those elements--and the location--are everything SLOC wanted for a legacy park.
Fraser Bullock/SLOC President and CEO: BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT DOWNTOWN. AND WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP SOME OF THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE GAMES THE HOBERMAN ARCH, SOME OF THE LOOK OF THE GAMES, SO IT WILL BE VERY OLYMPIC FOR PEOPLE GOING IN.
The city describes the project as a 'major transformation'--but one that will build on the Gallivan Plaza that's already here.
Dave Buhler/City Council Chair: THIS COULDN'T BE DONE BY SLOC WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S BUDGETED, AS GENEROUS AS IT IS IF GALLIVAN PLAZA DIDN'T EXIST. SO THEY'RE BASICALLY GOING TO BE BUILDING UPON WHAT'S ALREADY THERE AND ENHANCING IT.
Earlier this summer, the city proposed Pioneer Park be transformed into a Olympic Legacy park.
But the proposal for a performance stage didn't mesh with the city's overall vision for the park. The plans were scrapped.
But it did focus attention on a long-neglected piece of real estate in the city.
Mayor Rocky Anderson/Salt Lake City: I THINK THERE'S SUPPORT IN CITY COUNCIL NOW THAT WE KEEP MOVING TOWARD MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN PIONEER PARK. AND I THINK THE COMMITMENT IS THERE NOW.
The plans for Gallivan Plaza still have to go through the official approval process.
But no one sees any problems with that, and SLOC is hoping to have Gallivan's 'Olympic Tranformation' complete by next summer.
