Red Butte Garden was recognized by the Utah Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) with the 2022 Merit Award for outstanding general design of The Six Bridges Trail. This achievement, bestowed by a jury of professional landscape architects, is shared by a design team that includes Aaron Crookston, Sandara Davenport, and Christopher Sands of BIO-WEST, Inc.; Kyle Dana and Craig Rasmussen of Forsgren Associates, Inc.; and Kevin Jensen, Red Butte Garden.

The Six Bridges Trail project was one of four projects nominated in the General Design category that recognizes site-specific works of landscape architecture. In evaluating nominees, the jury considers the quality of the design and execution, design context, environmental sensitivity and sustainability, hazard mitigation, climate adaption, and design value to the community.

When asked about the relevant design characteristics of The Six Bridges Trail, the Arizona ASLA juror said, “This project represents our responsibility as landscape architects to provide accessible spaces for [persons of] all abilities. It also provides creek restoration and habitat. The design team did a great job understanding the site by performing a comprehensive site inventory/analyses and creating a hydraulic model regarding the flood plan to assure the design would be successful.”

The Six Bridges Trail is situated on the northeast border of the Garden and includes a series of bridges that crisscross Red Butte Creek. The trail is a 0.32-mile out-and-back walk from the trailhead to the last bridge with an elevation change of 26 feet. Stone benches are spaced throughout the trail, giving guests a place to rest and enjoy the sound of the running creek.