Salt Lake City: Livability in the 21st Century

SALT LAKE CITY
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF LANCE TYRRELL.
Salt Lake City is the center of one of the best business
climates in the country. With a resilient and diversified
economy, Utah’s capital embodies a livable city. A combination
of local, national and international industries continues
to be the envy of much of the country and supports a solid
education system, renowned cultural and recreational assets
and a strong social safety net.
Mobility gives Salt Lake City momentum and is the
“circulatory system” that keeps the city connected and
vibrant. The City’s multi-modal mobility, including bike
lanes, light rail, streetcars and trains, offers connections for
residents and visitors; connections to the downtown core,
to distinct neighborhoods, other municipalities throughout
the region, and to adjacent natural spaces like City Creek
Canyon and the Jordan River, as well as to the world-class
assets of the Wasatch Mountains and Great Salt Lake.
To maintain the remarkable assets that distinguish the
Capital City, Salt Lake City continues a strong tradition
of careful stewardship and provides an array of outdoor
experiences much valued by residents and visitors alike.
The City is surrounded by natural treasures and is committed
to providing the use and access that sustains a valued
quality of life while protecting the abundant resources that
place Salt Lake City in a rarified place for a large urban area.
Salt Lake City is the beneficiary of tremendous assets that
provide a foundation for the development of a world-class
education system and workforce. The City boasts an
immense concentration of post-secondary and higher
education institutions (including the University of Utah,
Westminster College, Salt Lake Community College, a
growing BYU Downtown campus, Utah State University
extension and a plethora of trade schools and certification
programs). Currently, these institutions are seeing record
enrollment levels as more and more students pick Salt Lake
City as their higher education destination.
Salt Lake City government continues to elevate the
protection of basic human rights for all Salt Lake City
residents through policy, education, advocacy and
celebration. Principles of diversity, equal protection and
accessibility are all critical to a well-functioning municipal
government and are fundamental elements of a
livable city.
Residents and visitors are attracted to the City’s
plentiful artistic and cultural offerings and sophisticated,
cosmopolitan feel. The Utah Symphony & Opera, Mormon
Tabernacle Choir and Ballet West anchor a myriad of
acclaimed dance and theater companies, choral groups
and galleries. Salt Lake City recognizes the value of these
cultural amenities. The arts not only lift the human spirit,
but also stimulate economic activity, support business
recruitment and retention, and enhance the livability of the
region’s vibrant hub.
S A L T L A K E C I T Y — L i v a b i l i t y i n t h e 2 1 s t C e n t u r y
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