NORTH SALT LAKE—Each year in September the Get to the River Festival at the Jordan River Parkway gives people the opportunity to experience the river with events and activities across three counties and 16 cities including North Salt Lake.

 Individuals and families from all over Davis County are invited to canoe or kayak the 3-mile stretch of the Jordan River Sept. 13, starting at the Riverview Boat Ramp in Salt Lake City (1835 N. Redwood Rd) at 8:30 a.m. and end at Porter’s Landing Boat Takeout in North Salt Lake (50 South Jordan River Drive). Shuttles will be available back to the vehicles at the starting location. All participants are required to register. Visit https://nslcity.org for more information.

It’s the Jordan River Commission’s 15th year anniversary, it was formed in 2010. The commission has been a champion for preserving, restoring and improving the Jordan River and its public lands and trails. As part of the commemoration the commission held a media event Aug. 29 at Porter’s Landing to kick off the Get to the River Festival.

“The festival is amazing,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. “Often festivals are three or four days. This is a month of celebration. I’m excited for the festival ahead and hoping to find a minute to hop in a kayak before the weather turns.”

“Everything the commission accomplished during my time and I’m sure since then, has been the product of a ton of teamwork,” said Laura Hanson, Senior Advisor for Long-Range Planning to Gov. Spencer Cox and Jordan River Commission Governing Board Member and former Executive Director. “Little by little, we went from having five gaps in the (Jordan River) Trail to now, you can ride all the way from Ogden to Provo on a bicycle. You can paddle the entire length of the corridor with nice safe portages and ways to avoid dangerous dams.”

Hanson said one of the things she loves about the river is that it’s really a place for everyone. “You can see a physician out jogging on the trail. You can see a mom pushing a stroller. You can see kids on their way to school using the trail. I feel like the river corridor is one of those unique places where it’s really for everybody and I hope that it can continue to be that in the future.”

“I appreciate all the volunteers and staff that work together to make the Jordan River Commission successful,” said Davis County Commissioner John Crofts. “Davis County is a proud member of the commission and values the Jordan River and its vibrancy. I appreciate Soren’s (Simonsen, Executive Director of the Commission) leadership and unique ability to bring people together to protect this important natural resource.”

Porter’s Landing was completed in 2016. “Former council member Stan Porter was on the governing board for the Jordan River Commission when it was established,” said Ali Avery, North Salt Lake Long Range Planner. “He was the one who kind of led the efforts for the Jordan River Paddle every year. We were the first established boat ramp along the entire stretch of the river. So Stan Porter was really instrumental in beginning that and starting that. So much so that we named this facility after him.”

North Salt Lake has the Jordan River Paddle every year during the Get to the River event, she said. “It’s just grown and grown in size every year. We get over 100 people do that paddle every year.”

It’s the only section (of the river) in Davis County, said Avery. “But it’s the last section before it enters the Great Salt Lake. So it’s a very important section and it’s a beautiful section of the river.”

This particular boat ramp was built in 2016, she said. “Then we decided to extend the Jordan River Trail because it used to end where it connects to the Legacy Trail and we decided to bring it over here to the boat ramp. Just this last year we reconstructed the boat ramp so it is a concrete boat ramp.”

The theme for this year’s Festival is “Our River, Our Future.” Details of the Festival events can be found at https://jordanrivercommission.gov/get-to-the-river-festival/.