Provo’s new Delta Gateway Park provides access to recreation, education and vast ecosystem
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- Children line up to release fish into the Provo River during a grand opening celebration of the Delta Gateway Park in Provo on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
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- Families and onlookers stand along the bank of the Provo River Delta with a look of the trail off to the west during a grand opening celebration of the Delta Gateway Park in Provo on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
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- Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi speaks to the crowd during a grand opening celebration of the Delta Gateway Park in Provo on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
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- Community members are shown during the grand opening celebration of the Delta Gateway Park in Provo on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
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- Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission Executive Director Michael Mills speaks to the crowd during a grand opening celebration of the Delta Gateway Park in Provo on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
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- Families and children utilize the playground area of the new Delta Gateway Park in Provo on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
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- An entrance sign to the new Delta Gateway Park in Provo is shown Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
The city of Provo has officially added another outdoor space for recreation and exploration to its system of parks and trails.
On Wednesday, city leaders, stakeholders and community members gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the new Provo Delta Gateway Park, located just north of the Utah Lake State Park on the city’s west side.
The new 3.4-acre neighborhood park and trailhead, which is being touted as Provo’s 60th park, adds another piece to the Provo River Delta restoration project and efforts to preserve the once endangered June sucker fish.
“This isn’t just another park; it’s a place where life happens,” Mayor Michelle Kaufusi said during the brief ceremony. “And it’s a place where kids can chase butterflies and neighbors will exchange morning hellos, and families will create lasting memories as well.”
The community space is meant to support recreation and public education about wetland conservation efforts.
Families, children and teenagers were seen enjoying the newly built playground at the park, walking the trail that runs along the Provo River and simply enjoying the environment.
Roughly a dozen children took part in a special ceremonial activity releasing June suckers into the river, with help from the Central Utah Water Conservancy District.
Wednesday’s occasion comes nearly nine months after the rehabilitated Provo River Delta opened to the public last October, interfacing the lower Provo River and Utah Lake.
The park includes the following features:
- An adventure playground for children and families
- Shade sails providing comfort during summer months
- Picnic areas for community gatherings
- Direct access to the Provo River
- Educational signage about the delta restoration
- Trail connections to the Provo River Trail, Utah Lake trails, Lakeview Parkway Trail, the Rivers Natural Area Park and new Provo River Delta trails
The project is a joint effort between Provo City, the Federal June Sucker Recovery/Provo River Delta Restoration Project and the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation. It’s also supported by Provo’s RAP tax.
Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission Executive Director Michael Mills said the completed projects thus far are a testament to the overall collaboration.
“While the delta was definitely built for the June sucker, it also provided a wonderful opportunity to improve recreation down in this area,” he said. “Additional trail mileage, canoe launching points, a viewing tower, a new bathroom, a dumpster, these little things that you never think about until these projects are coming together, and then this really awesome park that has become a reality.”
Doug Robins, Provo Parks and Recreation director, echoed that sentiment.
“This new park is the result of strong partnerships that drive meaningful community projects and will stand as a lasting investment in the health, wellness and quality of life of our community,” Robins said.
City Council member Rachel Whipple, who attended the ceremonious event, said the park will be a significant resource for the west side of Provo, which she noted has fewer amenities but more open space and river access compared to other parts of the city.
“By opening this facility here, we’re bringing the kind of structured playground and trails and everything to the side of Provo that really needs it most,” she told the Daily Herald. “And that pulls in everybody from the community, so there are more people here to love and value west Provo.”
Mills also noted that the Provo River Delta restoration project as a whole is not yet complete; construction crews will continue work to add two more canoe launch points and fishing platforms in the coming weeks.
The Delta Gateway Park is located at 311 N. Lakeshore Drive.
