SLC park, known for its expansive dog run and persistent homelessness issues, will get a face-lift

Melinda Slighting regularly brings her dog, Blarney — like the famous Irish stone — to Cottonwood Park’s off-leash dog run, even though it’s somewhat of a trek from her home behind the Utah Capitol.

It’s big, grassy, and the other pooches and people who go there are generally nice.

But it’s hardly perfect.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Melinda Slighting plays with her dog Blarney at Cottonwood Dog Park in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 29, 2024. (Francisco Kjolseth/)

“The hard part is there’s a lot of camping, homelessness, drug issues as I’m walking in,” she said. “There’s been a few nefarious individuals. I don’t bring my 5-year-old granddaughter because of that reason. I don’t want her to see that kind of stuff.”

Slighting’s concerns are common at this large, grassy park bisected by the Jordan River near North Temple and Redwood Road. But Salt Lake City officials want to make improvements by using a slice of the $85 million general obligation bond voters approved in 2022.

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