Canyon Rim Association Established

1977: Establishment

The Canyon Rim Citizens Association (CRCA) was established in September 1977 by a group of residents who joined forces to save the land which is now Tanner Park. Salt Lake City had sold a large area of land east of Sugarhouse along I-80 to the Country Club. 

Mass Meetings & Citizen Protests

The land extending to the east that wasn’t being used for the golf course was designated in the City Master Plan to be used for public recreation. Many times through the ensuing years, the Club tried to sell the land to developers. They were thwarted by mass meetings and citizen protests. 

Sometime in 1976, a developer did purchase 9 acres and planned to build 33 duplexes where Tanner Park is now located. Citizens of the Canyon Rim area were enraged. Protest meetings were held and citizens appeared before the then Salt Lake City Commission. The development was prevented, but the authorities warned that something had to be done. The land could not remain in limbo.

Raising Money

The first priority was to save the land from developers. Block captains were designated throughout the area and necessary seed money was raised to match government money and grants. Enough money was raised in two phases to purchase the land and Tanner Park was dedicated on July 5, 1982. It was named in honor of Obert C. Tanner’s son, Gordon, who used to play in the area before his untimely death in an auto accident. 

Mr. Tanner was impressed by the citizens’ efforts to save the land and contributed large sums of money to help accomplish the goal. Tanner Park is currently maintained by Salt Lake County.

Parleys Historic Nature Park

During those years the CRCA had been working at a slower pace to acquire the area known as Hansen Hollow. With donations of land and money and the efforts of many dedicated individuals, the 88 acres of land was dedicated as Parleys Historic Nature Park in April of 1987. 

Thus, it was mostly County residents who fought and worked to create the park, even though it is now held and maintained by Salt Lake City. The Hollow contains the remains of the aqueduct as well as the foundation of Dudler’s Inn and Saloon, including the stone cellar which was used for a brewery.