Laura Hanson, AICP is the executive director of the Jordan River Commission.  The JRC is a voluntary cooperation of three counties, ten cities, two special service districts and dozens of community partners working together to implement an ambitious vision for the 50-mile long Jordan River corridor.  The vision for the river includes recreation, open space preservation, habitat restoration, water quality improvements, regional transportation connections, and community building focused on highlighting the river corridor.In the JRC’s first two years of existence, the organization has helped secure millions of dollars in funding to complete the 45-mile Jordan River Parkway Trail and restore habitat along the river, lead over 5,000 volunteer clean-up hours, produced an educational trail map, developed a suite of planning tools and training seminars for local governments, and facilitated regional partnerships.   The JRC continues to work towards a more positive public perception of the urban river. Laura has applied her professional planning experience as a consultant developing both long-range community plans and natural resource management plans to her position with the JRC. She is now enjoying the tangible work of implementing such a plan for the Jordan River.

She holds bachelor degrees in urban planning and environmental studies, and a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Utah. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards from the Quality Growth Commission, and the Utah Chapters of the American Planning Association and American Society for Landscape Architects, and she is a frequent speaker at local conferences.  Laura volunteers with several community organizations, including serving as a Board member for Envision Utah, the Utah Center for Architecture, the JVWCD Conservation Garden Park and the Salt Lake County’s Open Space Committee.