There is no place I’d rather live than Salt Lake City. Chances are, if you’re reading this guide, it means you’re lucky enough to be either living in or visiting our wonderful city.

We have many assets in Salt Lake City: Our soaring mountains, easily accessible for recreation and enjoyment are the most obvious physical attribute. We are also on the edge of a world-renowned water body, the Great Salt Lake, and have stream corridors and the Jordan River running through the middle of our valley. Like many Salt Lake City residents, I try to take full advantage of our natural surroundings. Most weekends, you can find me hiking, biking, river running or skiing.

In addition to the great natural resources, Salt Lake City is the home of wonderful, historic neighborhoods, spectacular structures including a freshly restored State Capitol, a beautiful 19th-century city hall, the world headquarters of the LDS Church and one of the nation’s most recognized streets, South Temple (or Brigham Street). We are actively moving forward on an ambitious list of improvements in transit, bikeways, pedestrian-friendly transportation measures, and the re-establishment of a vibrant downtown.

January 2009 marks my one-year anniversary since becoming mayor. It’s been a busy first year with work done on numerous fronts to improve the quality of life in our city for residents, businesses and visitors. I hope you’ll take the time to look around and enjoy our neighborhoods, our parks, our cultural and recreational facilities, and our natural amenities. One of the great joys of discovery you can have is exploring the unique neighborhoods and places here. I hope this guide helps you do that.

During my first year as mayor, I have also sought to build a constructive dialogue and new level of participation in many issues that face our region, issues such as air quality, the Jordan River, support for the arts, energy use, transportation, education, justice and a welcoming community, and protection of our mountains, desert and waterway resources. By focusing on our valuable assets, we can continue to make Salt Lake City a great American city for future generations to enjoy.

Best Wishes,

Mayor Ralph Becker