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Sandy Journal

Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Holds Bond Election

Oct 27, 2016 02:57PM ● By Kelly Cannon

Eleven new projects and several improvement projects are part of the proposed parks and recreation bond. (Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation.

By Kelly Cannon | [email protected]


Cottonwood Heights & Holladay

Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation will have a bond election on the Nov. 8 ballot across the entire county. Called Salt Lake County Proposition A, the bond will issue $90 million to build new parks, trails, recreational amenities and a recreation center, as well as renovate and improve existing facilities. 

According to Callie Birdsall, the communications and public relations manager of Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, the county currently has a bond for parks and recreation projects out that will expire this year. The bond that is on the ballot is a continuation of that bond. 

“This bond that is coming out is to build these facilities, build some more parks, update the Jordan River with the water trail,” Birdsall said. “It’s not really a new tax. It’s a continuation.”

The proposition builds upon the reauthorized Zoo, Arts and Parks tax, which passed in November 2014 with 77 percent of the vote. 

The proposed $90 million in bonds is divided into $59 million in proposed projects and $31 million in proposed maintenance and improvement for parks and recreation locations that already exist. 

The first listed project is $2.7 million for Knudsen Nature Park in Holladay. The park will include a playground, open lawn, pavilions, picnic tables, fishing pond, wildlife education center, amphitheater, water mill education center, trails, covered bridges and restoring 475 feet of Big Cottonwood Creek. 

West Valley City will receive a $3 million Pioneer Crossing Park with open space, boardwalks, historical education areas, natural amphitheater, urban camping areas and a canoe launch. 

The Magna Township will get a $11.2 million for the Magna Regional Park. The park will include a multi-use sports fields, a playground with water play, outdoor basketball courts, tennis courts, a paved perimeter trail, skate sports and neighborhood access points. 

The Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center will receive nearly $2.5 million in upgrades and additions. This includes replacing pool mechanical systems to save on energy costs and replacing the existing filtration system with a more efficient and environmentally friendly system. The existing outdoor diving pool will be reconfigured to include 500 additional square feet of water surface area and will be fully ADA accessible. 

Wheeler Farm will receive a $2.75 million outdoor education center, which will include a 150-person classroom, a greenhouse, demonstration kitchens, offices and storage. Hands-on experiences will include horticulture, agriculture, livestock, watershed science, urban forestry and volunteer opportunities. 

South Jordan can expect a $12 million Welby Regional Park if the bond passes. Phase one of park development will be located primarily on 10200 South and will encompass approximately 47 acres. The park will include lighted multipurpose sports fields, a playground picnic shelters and a walking path. 

A $2.2 million Jordan River Water Trail is also proposed and will include a series of formal boat access points at strategic locations throughout the Salt Lake County’s section of the Jordan River. A new Jordan River Water Trail will be implemented and other improvements will strive to improve the current condition along the river. 

White City Township can expect a nearly $1.7 million White City/Sandy Trail. The paved pedestrian and bike trail will follow along the abandoned canal in White City beginning at 9400 South and will run along south to the Dimple Dell Regional Park, where it will connect with the Sandy Canal Trail.  

The largest project proposed bond is the nearly $20 million recreation center in Draper. The 35,910-square-foot center will feature a competitive lap pool, a leisure pool with a water slide and amenities, child care, two dance/multi-use rooms, fitness area, trails, open space and space for a future gymnasium. 

New $25,000 multi-use sports courts are slated for Salt Lake City that will include lights and a storage facility. Each court will be made out of asphalt or concrete. 

The last project listed with the bond is a $1.75 million Oak Hills Tennis Center in Salt Lake City. Located along the fifth hole of Salt Lake City’s Bonneville Golf Course, improvements include renovations to the existing tennis facility clubhouse. 

The $31 million in maintenance and improvement projects will include the Dimple Dell Regional Park, the Equestrian Park, Mick Riley Golf Course, mountain trails, Oquirrh Park, Salt Lake County parks, Southridge Park, Sugar House Park and universally accessible playgrounds. 

According to Birdsall, the proposed projects were submitted to the ZAP board for consideration. The approved projects were then sent on to the county council for their approval. 

The county has held several public meetings in various cities to educate the public on proposed bond. 

“We have posters and brochures in recreation centers, city halls, event centers (and) libraries,” Birdsall said. 

Birdsall believes the public is responding well to the proposed projects. 

“The support of parks and trails and open space is incredible every single year because of the increase in population and the urban sprawl that is happening. The need for open space is exponentially growing,” Birdsall said. “When you talk about parks and recreation, most people are pretty excited about it.”

To learn more about the proposed bond and the projects it includes, visit slco.org/parks-recreation-bond.