City planning staff and consultants on Monday presented a progress update on the Liberty Park Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) and a companion vision plan, recommending "rehabilitation" as the appropriate treatment and proposing an expanded period of significance that runs through 1970.

Catherine Sontag, associate landscape architect with public lands, introduced the project team and turned the presentation to consultants from Mundus Bishop. Tina Bishop of Mundus Bishop said, "we are here tonight to give you an update on our findings and some treatment guidance for Liberty Park," and Kelly Ream, senior planner with the consulting team, described the latest changes to the draft CLR.

The team reported that the projects 75% draft has been circulated and that, after consultations with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the technical advisory committee and the community advisory committee, the period of significance was extended to 1882 670. Ream said the change was made "to capture all the features that are associated with the modern design movement," specifically calling out Rice Pavilion, Wilson Pavilion, Tracy Aviary and the Central Promenade.

Ream summarized key recommendations organized by landscape characteristic: preserve the park composition defined by the nine spaces arranged around the Central Promenade and Constitution Drive; protect important views to the Wasatch Range, Liberty Lake and Mount Olympus; and conserve the parks urban forest by developing a succession plan for tree alleys and groves that balances historic patterns with water conservation and climate resilience. She said the selected treatment, "the recommended treatment for Liberty Park is rehabilitation," adding that rehabilitation would allow repair of contributing features while permitting the park to evolve to meet community needs.

The CLR also includes guidance for buildings and objects in the park, the consultants said. The draft provides recommendations to guide the siting and massing of a future greenhouse, maintain historic and physical connections between Tracy Aviary and the park, and document public-art features and placement guidance for future works. During the public Q&A, staff said the recent Fountain of the 7 Peaks project is a separate undertaking and that construction should be complete in the coming weeks; the artist who created the work is implementing changes to turn the feature into a dry installation and understory vegetation has been cleared to improve sightlines.

Commissioners and members of the public raised several questions. One commissioner asked about the staff recommendation in the report to remove a topographic mound that had been the site of a former band shelter; staff said removing that mound would be a "very large undertaking" and that it had been discussed internally because the feature once provided a visual connection to the mountains and to Liberty Lake. Another commissioner asked about public-safety and homeless encampment concerns on the parks east end; the consultants and staff said activation strategiesincluding reintroducing some non-extant walk alignments and considering complementary uses near Rice Pavilionwere being explored as ways to increase everyday use and improve sightlines.

Sontag and the consulting team said they will continue to refine the CLR and vision plan and intend to finalize both documents in early 2026 to ensure the CLRs treatment guidance and the vision plan align. The consultants noted the CLRs recommendations will include diagrams and recommended actions for circulation, plantings and building treatments to guide future preservation and park improvements.

The briefing was presented during the commissions staff session and did not result in a formal vote.