.jpg)
Allen Park is one of Salt Lake Cities newer parks opened in 2020. It is a really neat park for several reasons. It was a private property that belonged to Dr. Allen. He was fond of birds and poetry. The park features a lot of mosaic poems that he created. It also features Emigration Creek, and some neat old buildings, wildlife, and, what brought us out today, loads of poppies! This is normally a place that I reserve for fall, but I decided to come back today to see the poppies. It was not as grand as the Lambert Park Poppy Field, but it was still neat.
I normally try to do something weird and off the beaten path on Memorial Day and I did have something like that planned, but, we both totally slept in a little late today, so after wracking my brain for a minute I remembered this was something I wanted to see, and it is the right time of year to do so. Plus, I mean, it is weird, and ended up being not busy so win win.
Quick Details:
Length: About 9/10ths of a mile… with quite a bit of squirreling back and forth.
Trail Type: Out and back with spur could consider it a loop with spur.
Difficulty: It is completely paved and pretty flat. DR2.
Elevation Gain: About 30 feet.
Restroom: Not yet, but one is planned. Try nearby Sugar House Park, or a gas station.
Dogs? No. Unfortunately a few jerks allowed their dogs to harass the wildlife so they have been banned permanently.
Other Info: There is no parking. Either find street parking or park at nearby Sugar House Park.
To Get Here:
Take i80 to 13th east and head north about 8/10 of a mile. Past Sugar House Park, and past 21st south. It will be on the right.
The Trail:
The main entrance.
The final recommended concept design.
As I mentioned, this was a private neighborhood, and it almost went up for sell to whatever developer that would not have preserved even a fraction of what the city is planning to. So luckily Salt Lake City came up with the funds to purchase the land in 2020 and make it a public park.
Wild rose.
Yellow rose.
The main trail along Allen Park Drive.
Old gazebo. If I understand it correctly, they plan to keep and restore this.
Poppies! These are not looking particularly happy right now though.
"An aquatic aristocrat"
One of the many mosaic poems. I think I have covered those pretty extensively so this post will not be focusing on those so much.
The main Allen Residence. They plan to convert this into a park office and small museum.
Squirrel friend.
So cute.
More poppies hooray!
The map I saw led me to believe the main poppy field would be closer to the front. But now that I am looking at it again, it looks like that a future plan enhancement. But what exists is pretty nice.
You can see more of the future plans at allenparkslc.org (outside link).
Again, no Lambert Park, but it is nice.
Peacock. I learned there are 3 of them here, and a turkey too.
Pretty bird.
The neat fountain. Built by Dr. Allen sometime after his 1958 retirement. The map indicates they plan to keep this. I wonder if they will get it flowing again.
Back to the poppies.
Closer views.
The little field again.
Back to the peacock.
Closer.
Trying to pass by without upsetting him too much.
Another squirrel friend. Man they are huge here!
We decided to check out the little southwest spur, cause I was still after the poppies. We usually do this part at the end.
We found a second peacock having a nap.
The poppies again.
Roses.
“A strong bird on pinions free”
“Beauty is truth, truth is beauty”
Unrelated, but some of my friends decided to do a craft day and make stepping stones. Looking back I wish I had tried to recreate some of my favorite mosaic poems from here. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I did make in the end. But I did kind of struggle coming up with them. Knowing my friends I am sure I will have another chance haha.
The front area is just trees.
Back to the poppies.
Back to the napping peacock.
“Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.”
The peacock again.
The Roost. They plan to preserve this house. I love the rooster on the top.
The 1st peacock again, and one of the neat old street lights. They plan to restore most, if not all of these.
Another squirrel.
The neat fountain again.
The poppies again.
Peacock again.
Closer.
The Allen Lodge. Completed in 1933, this 2 story log cabin was the Allen Family main residence.
Some kind of allium I think.
A small poppy field in front of the Allen Lodge. It looks like they plan to improve this one as well.
Another allium.
Poppies.
Continuing along the main Allen Park Drive.
Poppies from the side. Sorry, I am squirreling a bit today. I just love the poppies. Plus, we have never been here in the warmer months.
Another patch of poppies on the north side of the street. These look to be about done for the season.
A happy one and a spent one.
Squirrel.
Okay now that is just adorable.
Old bird cage. Dr. Allen was quite fond of birds.
This bridge was damaged in the epic 2022-23 winter and was then removed to prevent further damage from expected high runoff. Looking at the plans, it looks like they have no plans to restore it. Instead, the area across the creek will be accessed from a trail coming from the next bridge to the east.
The old bridge used to lead to the Thomas Boam House, which they plan to restore so the future path will lead to it too.
This building on the other hand is not doing so well and is one of the buildings they plan to remove. I mean, seriously there is no saving this thing.
Aside from the houses built on the property, Dr. Allen made a habit of purchasing old army barracks and other old houses and putting them on the property. Eventually they were rented out. As I understand it, the small stature of the old barracks is what led to the urban legend that hobbits lived here, thus the neighborhood being called Hobbitville amongst the local teenagers. I was not sure how the spookyness started to be attributed to the area until I found a sign that miiiight explain it at the end of our walk today.
I believe most of the old barracks are the buildings that are being removed.
Pretty yellow roses.
The house is leaning one way, and the porch is leaning the other. It looks like an amusement park fun house! But is certainly far more dangerous. It looks like it is about ready to tumble into the creek. It looks worse every year, but I wonder how long it has looked bad. I wonder if it may have contributed to the spooky vibe here.
The right side.
Left.
I love me a good spooky looking house. But, I can recognize this is not a structure to try to go inside, even if there were no ‘no trespassing’ signs. I am definitely too old to ride a crumbling building down into a creek! But even in my young and dumb days I don't think I would have gone in something like this.
Continuing along.
Old dry pond.
The map has a symbol here for Major Art Objects they plan to keep, but there are a couple in this little circle. So it’s not clear which ones they plan to keep. I hope all of them.
Continuing along Allen Park Drive. I am trying to reign in my squirreling today and keep to the left side (so north side on the way in, south side on the way out) to make it a loop, but I am not doing so great with that today.
Roses.
“Knowledge comes but wisdom lingers” I love the little owl.
Stunning iris. The gardens are sad reminders that people lived here, and they cared about it.
Sadly, Dr. Allens relatives could not afford the upkeep on the buildings, and they eventually put the land up for sell. Some gross developers almost got their hands on it, but luckily in 2020 Salt Lake City saw how special it was, and the potential it had and they saved it and made it a city park.
Ye Old George. Another one they plan to restore.
“Natures never wears a mean appearance”.
Plus a few more poppies.
The bridge to Ye Old George. As I mentioned earlier the plan is to put a trail back there to connect to the Thomas Boam House from here as well.
I did squirrel to the south side when I saw some purple money plants! The ones in my garden are about spent, but these guys are still super happy.
Edit; Before I completed this post I noticed mine has some new blossoms coming in! This is the first year it has bloomed, so my first time observing what it does.
One of several benches. I learned these came from some of the trees that came down during the windpocolypse of 2020 in SLC.
Another little poppy field.
Closer.
A pretty good poppy garden.
Surrounding our favorite mosaic poem, which along with the tall grass makes it hard to read. But, it’s our favorite so we know it: “Summer or winter, day or night the woods are an ever new delight”.
Today is kind of absolutely proving that to be true. We normally do this area in fall, but this is the first time we have come here in summer, and look at how absolutely stunning, and magical it is in a completely different way today!
More poppies. They are still absolutely pretty, but I think I like the red ones just a little better than these orange ones.
More poppies.
Well, I did not control my squirreling very well today haha. Back to the north side where I found a few more poppies.
The gully that contains Emigration Creek.
Back to the south side… o.O This duplex is called the 1384 Duplex and is planned to be converted into restrooms.
More poppies.
It looks a little haggard, but I am sure it must be structurally sound.
More poppies.
The other side of the duplex.
More poppies.
More across on the north side.
Okay, this is much less of a loop and way more of a zigzagging meander.
“Tis beauty truly blent”
It’s hard to see Emigration Creek through all the foliage. But this is downstream from where the road crosses over it.
Upstream.
I didn’t get a picture of it here, but the plan is to replace the culvert I am standing on here with a bridge.
Old well. This is not listed on the map, so I assume they don’t plan to keep it. I understand not having an open well in a city park, that is a total liability (as at this point is a cliché in media), but maybe they could cap it and keep the old well structure? You don't see many of those around here.
This duplex (barely visible through the trees right now) will be removed and a picnic area will take it’s place.
The Mary Rose. They plan to restore this one.
Small poppy field to the west of it.
Peonies.
Iris’s. The gardens around this house are definitely a stark reminder someone lived here.
Some just about done poppies.
The Mary Rose again.
This little guy appears to have found a snack to much on near the trash cans.
.jpg)
Hey, I’m not judging. You get your nom on little guy.
The squirrels are being super adorable today.
Back on the north side is The Roberta. This one the plan is to convert it into a maintenance building.
Next up is the Sally Anne which will be restored, according to the plan.
Back to the south side, this is 1 of 3 duplexes on the southeast corner that will be removed and left as a open wild area.
Back to the Sally Anne on the north side, and the pretty rose bushes.
Roses. They seemed to be quite fond of the yellow ones.
The Sally Anne.
The next one on the north side will be removed to make way for another gathering area.
Across to the south, this is the middle one in the SW corner that will be removed for the natural area.
Some more poppies caused me to squirrel back over to that side. haha.
Almost to the end.
The Ethylene is the last one on the north side. It is another one they plan on preserving.
With an iris lined path.
Back to the south is the final duplex of the SW 3 that will be removed for more wild open area as well as possible creek access (which would be awesome).
Little pillar in the circle at the end.
The Ethylene again. Obviously I have not been inside any of the buildings, but some of the ones that look to be in pretty sad shape, are planned to be kept, and some that look pretty solid are being removed. Again, I haven’t been inside, so they may be more structurally sound than they appear. I am also sure there is some history I am not aware of as well. So, maybe I should just shut up and see what happens lol.
The pillar again.
We found one final patch of poppies back here. Wewt.
Some of the poppies are growing through the fence so we could see them a little more closely.
But they also appear to be about at the end of their cycle.
This field is looking a little sparse though.
Side note, they have retained the option to build a trail along the creek upstream. Possibly connecting to Blaine Natural Area and maybe even Wasatch Hollow too, which I think would be really amazing! More access to our creeks!!!
Through the fence.
One that hasn’t bloomed yet.
More poppies. They really are just stunning flowers.
After the loop at the far east end, we are now heading west.
1 of the 3 duplexes on the southeast section of the property that will be removed in favor of some open wild space.
As I understand it, when the unsafe buildings have been removed, and the buildings they plan to restore are secured, the stupid fence will come down. I honestly cannot wait to see that!
I didn’t think to get a picture of all of the address markers with the cute art on them. I hope they find some way to preserve and display them.
The middle of the 3.
With some poppies.
Another cute address sign. This one appears to appreciate the squirrel friends that are abundant here.
The one to the north that is being removed.
More poppies
Closer.
I did say the focus of this post would be the poppies right? haha.
The 3rd of the southeast 3 that are to be removed.
Cute address sign.
Neat pillars.
Pretty yellow roses.
The Roberta to the north. Again, they plan to convert this to a maintenance shed.
The little old neighborhood again.
Another squirrel friend.
Where Allen Park Drive crosses over Emigration Creek. Again, they plan to remove the culvert and put a bridge in. I wonder if they plan to remove all of the cement as well to make it more park like? From what I can tell, that is not the plan. Which, now that I think about it makes sense.
Some forget me nots.
The neighborhood again with the 1384 duplex, which again will be converted into restrooms.
Continuing along Allen Park Drive.
Another one of the downed tree benches.
1384 duplex.
One of the cute address signs.
Poppies.
More.
Closer.
I think this was the best little poppy field of the day.
Closer.
More.
With some iris’s.
Well, hello there!
Where is your family?
This is not the first time I have seen deer in here. I guess they are regulars.
Little gathering area. It looks like they plan to keep this as well.
Deer with one of the mosaic poems.
Closer.
Again.
The little pond.
They are using the tarps to kill invasive plants. They plan to plant native plants in fall.
Neat deer statue. It’s not clear if they intend to restore this, or the pond, or well hopefully both.
Behind the Allen Lodge.
Again.
The deer statue and another mosaic sign.
The front of the Allen Lodge.
With the poppies.
.jpg)
“The song of birds for mirth
Allen”
I feel dumb for only now noticing that Allen is spelled out with bird images. That’s freaking adorable!
Emigration Creek.
The fountain and The Roost.
Landis wondered what the seemingly random sticks across the tops of the fences in some spots were for earlier, and I said its for the peacocks. Here is a prime example. I guess it is more comfortable for them to perch on. I wonder what they will do when the fences come down. On the one hand, the won’t have to hop over the fences anymore, on the other hand, they do appear to enjoy perching. Honestly, I am just happy the city did not evict them, and is actually taking care of them.
Such a handsome fella.
I did not get to see any of them display today, but watching him preen was kind of neat too.
Better from the back.
Again.
Almost fully spread.
That was neat!
Neat stone archway.
The fountain again.
Cute squirrel friend.
Again.
Another one.
Uh oh. Maybe squatting down to their level wasn’t the best idea. I guess they thought that meant I had food for them, and they started surrounding me. eep.
A couple ‘rap album’ shots.
They are super skittish but are getting surprisingly close. Sorry guys, I don’t have anything for you.
They like to scamper through the fountain.
The fountain and the Allen Lodge.
Looking back east.
“The poetry of earth is never dead”
The gazebo again.
Looking back towards the Allen Lodge.
“Too low they build, who build beneath the stars”.
Fun Fact:
“Generations of local teenagers referred to Allen Park as “Hobbitville” and they dared each to drive or walk to the end of Allen Park Drive at night. Tenants would gather, just out of sight of the road making menacing noises and popping out of the shadows to terrify the interlopers.”
Now that is freaking hilarious!!! And it likely helps explain why the legend of Hobbitville persisted as long as it did.
Well, I came to see the poppies, and well, I saw me some poppies! But seeing as this is the first time we came here in the summer, it was really nice to explore it some more as well and I squirreled quite a bit all over the place to see all of the things! We only ran into 2 other people so, at the end of the day I did find us a weird out of the way place to visit on this holiday weekend that wasn't very busy. I’m going with 10 squirrels today. It was just a lovely stroll, and is my favorite city path.
As for difficulty, it is completely paved, and pretty flat. DR2.
Dogs are not allowed. So be sure to leave Fido home for this one.
No comments:
Post a Comment