Gallivan Center-Salt Lake City, Utah-Ice Skating, Free Concerts, Downtown Center

The full name of this urban park is The John W. Gallivan Utah Center. The fairly small park is full of life, housing unique art projects, an amphitheater, an ice rink and pond, a huge outdoor chessboard, and an aviary. The park has performance areas of all sizes, you'll find lots of seating, intimate spaces and vantage points that make the Center a comfortable place to enjoy the many activities scheduled throughout the year. It is also a good place to take a casual stroll or to sit and people watch.

Providing a focal point for the downtown crowd to gather for lunch, it also hosts exhibits, fairs, performances, parades, festivals and holiday celebrations. During the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the Gallivan Center was one of the busiest venues in downtown.

The center is located in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, at 36 East 200 South. There isn't a lot of parking available. Your best bet is to walk, or take Trax downtown and get off at the Gallivan Trax stop on Main Street to enter the Plaza.

Once there, you'll find trees, grass, cement and sculptures throughout the park in a well-organized, comfortable layout. One online reviewer said, "This urban park is saving downtown one evening concert at a time.'' Another said, "Do yourself a favor and leave your desk at lunchtime-the Gallivan Center is the perfect spot for a mid-day alfresco meal. There are often concerts in the summertime and there are usually vacant benches or tables for sitting. If not, grab a spot on the grass, read a book and enjoy the sunshine.''

The Gallivan Center can be rented by private parties to host family reunions or weddings, you can see a rock concert with five-thousand screaming fans, or play a life size game of chess in the summer. In the winter the ice skating rink is popular with kids of all ages.

The owners of The Center are intent on building the sense of community felt by both residents and visitors alike. The Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City' s governing mission statement promises that the intent of the center is to, "enhance the viability of downtown and the sense of community felt by city residents and visitors.'' These two groups intend to do this by "producing and promoting quality artistic, educational, recreational, and entertainment programs and activities.''

You can believe their commitment when you see a summer calendar filled with things like the Lunch Bunch Concert Series, Sundance film screening, Wednesday Rocks, Twilight Concert series, Disney days, Rock n ribs, and a Folk and Bluegrass festival. If you don't want to attend one of their scheduled venues, visit this park to enjoy the variety of unique art on display.

Many of the art projects were built as an integral part of The Center with the intent of portraying a natural Utah theme. Adding color and personality to the plaza, all of the art pieces attract local visitors, as well as tourists, to this outstanding Salt Lake City attraction. You will see things like a huge asteroid type sundial, which is meant to bring a bit of Southern Utah's beauty to downtown Salt Lake while demonstrating the movement of nature's time.

The Citysearch Website describes The Gallivan Center as, "One of those important downtown spots that keep Salt Lake's cultural heart beating strong. Since its completion in 1993, the center has hosted loads of free concerts, Monday-night movie screenings, food festivals, ice skating and more.''