Connecting the 109-acre Sugar House Park with the 0.5-acre Hidden Hollow Natural Area, this approximately 1,100-foot-long section of the Parley Trail was designed by artist Patricia Johanson and landscape architect Steven Gilbert of ArcSitio Design following a competition held by the city in 2003. Completed in phases, The Draw at Sugar House (2018) recreates natural “draws”—sunken riparian corridors that historically carried water off the Wasatch Mountains and have since been filled. Designed to mitigate flooding, this work of environmental art and public infrastructure directs water under an eight-lane highway, to Parley Creek. Drawing inspiration from its setting, the installation deploys naturalistic, rock-like, sculptural forms, that pay homage to the state’s landscape heritage while providing opportunities for interpretative enrichment and ecological health.
Comprised of distinct eastern and western sections connected by an underpass that serves both people and water, the eastern section resembles a sego lily—the state flower—when viewed in plan, with the trail and a plaza representing its stem and blossom, respectively. Graded to direct water west, the plaza is surrounded by three petals that slope upward toward the highway and an earthen, berm-like dam (1984). Each petal is distinguished by earth-toned shotcrete sculptural forms. Designed to resemble natural terrain and invite play, they frame curvilinear paths and irregular-shaped beds planted with maple trees, sagebrush, cotoneaster, and reed grass. The easternmost petal has seven descending rills articulated by vegetation, which direct water toward the trail.
The western section slopes toward Paley Creek and was designed to be reminiscent of Echo Canyon, a natural passage used by native peoples and nineteenth century settlers. This linear section is framed to the south by a 30-foot-tall wall distinguished by naturalistic ledges that encourage interaction and provide habitat for local bird and bat species. A multi-level condominium on the opposite side of the path contributes to the canyon-like atmosphere.
