SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Community concerns over a “concentration” of massage parlors in Salt Lake’s Ballpark neighborhood led to police undercover operations last month that identified undisclosed “violations” at five of six massage enterprises.
“We’re seeing more massage businesses in the neighborhood, not less,” said Amy Hawkins, Ballpark Community Council Chair, noting she does not have evidence of crimes.
2News first reported on Hawkins’ concerns Thursday evening, sent questions to police about the parlors, and the department responded.
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“In May 2025, SLCPD’s Special Investigations Unit detectives conducted six undercover operations in Salt Lake City’s Ballpark neighborhood in response to community concerns of potential illegal conduct occurring during massage therapy appointments,” said the department in a release. “As a result of these investigations, the SLCPD is working with the city and DOPL (state regulators) to address identified violations at five of the six locations. Due to the ongoing nature of these investigations, no specific details about the businesses can be released at this time.”
Police also acknowledged previous cases in which “some massage therapy businesses have also been connected to elements of human trafficking.”
By 2News’ count, there are nine massage businesses from 1100 South to 1800 South and from State Street to I-15.
In one section of Main Street, massage parlors are on back-to-back blocks — and on State, a massage business is across the street from another.
Ballpark parlors are open during the day and into the night.
“We’ve been sort of collecting concerns from adjacent neighbors who notice businesses are open as late as they are and have the kind of traffic that they do,” Hawkins said.
On walks in the neighborhood, Hawkins snapped photos of signs of the businesses, including one that said, “Massage, New Girl.”
Police did not describe the Ballpark businesses’ “violations” as criminal.
Thursday night, the neighborhood community council met to get more information on the parlors from the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, the Salt Lake County Health Department, and from police.
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