Utah State Fair fences off Jordan River Trail to reduce crime and ensure fairgoers' safety

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The Utah State Fair has closed a section of the Jordan River Trail to reduce crime in the area for fairgoers.

The path from 300 North to North Temple is now temporarily fenced.

“It feels a lot safer,” said Crystal Gallardo, who lives near the trail. “I've been there before the State Fair, and it's a little scary to walk by.”

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Jordan River Commission Executive Director Sören Simonsen knows that several agencies in the area are working to stop criminal activities.

“There has been a lot of drug dealing in the Jordan River Trail area, within a four to five block radius,” Simonsen said. “We need to clean up the area and prevent that type of activity from occurring during the State Fair.”

Brent Weisberg of the Salt Lake Police Department said officers spent more than 6,000 hours patrolling the area and made more than 600 arrests along the way or in surrounding neighborhoods.

“Just last week, our officers worked with our Pioneer Patrol Division's biker squad and conducted undercover operations to ensure we send a clear message that drug trafficking and drug activity will not be tolerated in this area and in this scene,” Weisberg said.

The path will remain closed until September 15th.

Simonsen said there have been discussions about keeping the area closed for an extended period of time – possibly two or three months – to address some of the real public safety concerns in the area.

“I just think it should be more permanent,” Gallardo added.

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