Summit County residents overwhelmingly supported a proposed bond measure to build two new Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District facilities during a public hearing this week, but a former member of the district’s administrative control board urged current leadership to downsize the project and reduce the expected price tag.

Basin Recreation initially proposed a $150 million general obligation bond to fund the construction of a climbing facility in Jeremy Ranch and an aquatic center in Silver Creek. However, the amount was reduced to $71 million after the Summit County Council and community members questioned the scope of the design. Residents noted they are already paying for multiple Basin Recreation bonds in addition to the district’s base tax rate.

If the bond passes, Basin Recreation plans to build a 20,000-square-foot facility in East Canyon with indoor courts, multi-purpose rooms, outdoor amenities and classroom spaces. The 68,000-square-foot facility in Silver Creek Village is expected to have an aquatic center, climbing and bouldering equipment, cardio and weight rooms, multi-purpose spaces and a daycare.

Basin Recreation Executive Director Robert Parrish said district leadership consolidated the aquatic and climbing offerings to one location to better accommodate the reduced bond amount. He said a second phase of the project would ultimately be funded at a later date to create further outdoor amenities for both locations, including a potential sculpture garden and mini golf course.

The County Council already voted to place the bond on the Election Day ballot, but a public hearing on Wednesday allowed residents to voice their opinions on the initiative and ask questions. Of the 10 residents who spoke, a majority were in favor of the bond, with only Ben Castro, a former Basin Recreation board member, in opposition.

Castro, who served on the district’s board from 2014 to 2025, said he recognized the need for additional facilities, but not with a $71 million price tag.

“The largest previous bond Basin Recreation had was $25 million, with $15 million for open space and $10 million for facilities,” Castro said. “As a board member, I consistently wanted a phased and conservative approach for a bond for building new facilities, and, unfortunately, this is not a phased or conservative approach.”

He said he was concerned about how the district would fund ongoing operations and maintenance costs because the bond can only pay for “upfront construction.” Castro also pointed out that his last act as a board member was a request to increase property taxes, which was poorly received by the County Council and taxpayers.

“We do need additional facilities, but if the bond is approved or declined by the general public, we should not build an additional aquatic facility in Summit County,” Castro said.

He brought figures indicating the Park City Aquatic Center costs between $1.2 million and $1.8 million to operate, with an annual loss between $400,000 and $700,000. Similarly, he said the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center costs $4.5 million to $6 million to operate, with an annual loss of $1 million to $2 million per year.

The Provo Recreation Center, which Castro said has an operating cost of $3.6 million to $4.5 million, was the only aquatic center he listed that breaks even.

“The reason why this is breaking even is because they have massive dry facilities to subsidize the aquatic wing,” Castro said. “If the aquatic wing was stripped out or isolated on its own, it would be a negative revenue value.”

However, other residents supported the pool and said they were glad to see the district expand the types of activities it offers. Josh Riff, a Summit County resident, said there are public health benefits associated with public swimming pools, too.

“I’m an emergency medicine physician, and I’ve seen a lot of children who’ve drowned,” Riff said. “Swimming pools … are one of the No. 1 factors that lead to young children learning how to swim. Park City has seen zero young deaths in the last three years. Utah averages 31 a year, so I’m a huge fan of more pools for more access to have more kids learn how to swim.”

Riff’s wife, Jennifer, is the leading force behind the proposed sculpture garden and mini golf course that Basin Recreation intends to build through a public-private partnership with her nonprofit. The sculpture garden and mini golf proposal garnered overwhelming support from speakers during the public hearing, but Parrish clarified that the project would be part of the facilities’ second phase and not funded by the bond measure.

“That is our intent, to partner with outside nonprofit and for-profit organizations to bring enrichment to facilities in a partnership that removes some of the tax burden but also still brings an amenity to the district as well,” added Basin Recreation Board Chair Ryan Bruce.

Tony Tyler, a Silver Creek resident and local developer, said he supported the bond to remove stress from current facilities and expand the district’s offerings, which he said his family takes advantage of on a regular basis.

“The opportunity here is well beyond the $71 million value,” Tyler said. “I love the ability of Rob’s team to be able to modify the plans to meet an expectation of budget. Quite frankly, I would have voted for $150 million for the two facilities to be fully built out, and I know quite a few people who would have done the same, but given where we are today, I think that the $71 million plan is a very positive addition to the community.”

The bond would add $12.09 for every $100,000 of a home’s value. For example, a $1 million home would pay $120.94 for the bond each year, with a total of $452.59 earmarked for Basin Recreation due to the base tax rate and other debts.

For second homeowners and businesses, the bond would add $21.99 for every $100,000 of the property’s value. A $1 million business or second home would pay $219.90 annually, with a total of $822.90 earmarked for Basin Recreation when accounting for other taxes and debts.

Parrish said Basin Recreation intends to hold another meeting on the bond, which will likely be an informational open house, on Oct. 7.

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Snyderville Basin voters will decide whether to approve or reject a $71 million general obligation bond to fund the construction of a new recreation facility after the Summit County Council authorized the ballot measure this week on behalf of the Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District.

Basin Recreation last month unveiled plans for a $150 million general obligation bond to build a climbing facility in Jeremy Ranch and an aquatic center in Silver Creek, but community members and the Summit County Council questioned the project’s cost and need. Residents noted they are already paying for multiple Basin Recreation bonds in addition to the district’s base tax rate.

The district’s executive board and Executive Director Robert Parrish spent the past two weeks revising the proposal to make it more palatable to councilors and residents and suggested a $71 million bond instead, which is half of the district’s original request.

However, Parrish said the cut means the district won’t be able to build both facilities or include all specialized amenities. He said the district would likely construct a building in Silver Creek similar in size to the current Fieldhouse, although a smaller community center or outdoor equipment could still be installed on the Cline Dahle parcel in Jeremy Ranch.

For primary homeowners, the bond would add $12.09 for every $100,000 of a property’s taxable value, so a parcel worth $1 million would pay $120.90 in addition to the district’s base rate and other bond debts.

Secondary-home owners and businesses would pay $21.99 for every $100,000 of a property’s taxable value. That means a business or second home worth $1 million would pay $219.90 in addition to other costs.

Parrish said some of the district’s three outstanding bond debts — two from 2015 and one from 2017 — would expire by 2028, when the district plans to start construction and draw on the new proposed bond funding. Bond B from 2015 expires in December 2028, while the bond from 2017 expires in 2030.

Bond A from 2015 does not expire until December 2034.

Parrish said resolving some of the district’s debt would even out the cost for taxpayers, saying that residents would likely only need to pay for all four bonds, plus the base tax rate, in 2028. After that, at least one of the bonds will have expired, lowering the overall price tag.

Basin Recreation also has $6.3 million in its capital improvement fund, which Parrish plans to use to cover soft costs, like building permits and architectural designs, to delay when the district needs to draw on the bond in an effort to save taxpayers money.

Parrish said the district would hire a general contractor early in the process, too, to ensure the design doesn’t end up more expensive than anticipated.

The Summit County Council unanimously voted to place the bond on the Election Day ballot, with several councilors praising Parrish and the executive board for taking community feedback to heart throughout the proposal process.

“Thank you very much for coming back with a different proposal,” said County Councilor Tonja Hanson. “I think it will bode well with the constituents who were concerned about this. They had sticker shock … so I think your board and what you’ve done is very wise.”

Only voters in the Snyderville Basin within the Basin Recreation boundaries will see the bond measure on their ballot. Interim Summit County Clerk Malena Stevens said most residents living in the 84098 ZIP code are within the boundaries, but residents with a 84060 zip code — which covers most of Park City proper — are not.

Basin Recreation will hold another public hearing and provide information on potential building designs on Sept. 23.

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The Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District cut its proposed bond amount in half after residents bemoaned the district’s growing price tag, and Executive Director Robert Parrish said the reduction means future facilities will also need to downsize.

Basin Recreation last month unveiled plans for a $150 million general obligation bond to build a climbing facility in Jeremy Ranch and an aquatic center in Silver Creek, but community members and the Summit County Council questioned the project’s cost and need. Residents noted they are already paying for two Basin Recreation bonds in addition to the district’s base tax rate.

Parrish said he took the County Council and community feedback to heart, and the district plans to propose a reduced $71 million general obligation bond on Wednesday. Voters will have a chance to decide the bond’s future if the County Council authorizes placing it on the Election Day ballot.

Approximately $60 million would go toward constructing the buildings, while another $11 million would be set aside for unexpected and “soft” costs, including the design process and required permits.

Parrish said the district will likely build a “major” facility on one site and a smaller community center or outdoor recreation field on the other. However, Basin Recreation leadership is still determining whether to prioritize the Cline Dahle parcel in Jeremy Ranch or the district-owned parcel in Silver Creek.

“When I say ‘major,’ it will probably be the same size or maybe a little smaller than the current Fieldhouse,” Parrish said. “We’re going to do a cost analysis for site development on both properties. If one would cost more to put in utilities, that might lead us one way or the other. We’ll also do some geotech surveys on the sites to see which site is going to be easiest to build on, which one has the space for us to do programming, and then we’ll go from there.”

The buildings haven’t been designed, but district officials are formulating possible programming options over the next few weeks to determine what needs to be included in each facility while remaining under budget. The results of those conversations will be published in October, which is when the district plans to hold another public hearing ahead of Election Day.

“We’ll have to reconfigure the building design to allow for some modularity … so that the buildings can easily be added onto without the significant expense of having to shut down the building and open up the whole entire wall,” Parrish said.

It’s uncertain whether aquatic or climbing equipment will be included at this point because the district needs to evaluate the costs of running different types of facilities, Parrish said.

“We’ll go through some exercises analyzing what can be done within the budget and program it from there,” he added. “Once we have the program and the building planned, we’ll also work on how we can phase in amenities or what we can do later on.”

Parrish said district leadership arrived at the $71 million figure for a variety of reasons, including findings in a 2024 strategic plan that indicated residents would support a $70 million bond to build a facility in Silver Creek. He also noted the current Fieldhouse would cost $45 million to renovate if it were damaged in a fire, based on a recent facilities assessment.

“Replacing the building is cheaper, so to build a new building of a similar size, it would probably be closer to $50 million or $55 million,” Parrish said. “We don’t own (the Fieldhouse property). There are other things that we inherited that make the cost of that facility less, whereas if we were to build a facility from scratch, there’s a lot more that would go into it for us.”

If Basin Recreation can’t afford two facilities, it’s possible one property could be converted into a park or outdoor recreation space. Parrish said he’s received some requests to leave the Silver Creek parcel as open space, but the development agreement for the land requires the construction of a recreation area.

“The developer basically donated and gave us the land with the intent for us to create parklands and develop it and provide at least some amenities,” Parrish said. “There are legal constraints for the things that we must do on these properties.”

Parrish also pointed out that Basin Recreation’s two current bonds expire in 2028 and 2030. He said the district wouldn’t draw on the new bond’s funding until it’s time to start construction, which would likely be in mid-2028, so residents would only be paying all three bonds for one to two years.

As more developments are built, like Altus Park City, the price for residents will decrease because more people are paying property taxes, Parrish added.

“The hope is that we’ll get something that everybody can use, that everybody needs, but it may not be what everybody wants,” Parrish said. “But we can work on those wants and build those out in future years as the population grows and we start paying off this other debt.”

Parrish and the Basin Recreation executive board will present the lower $71 million bond to the County Council on Wednesday. The county will hold a public hearing on the proposal the same night, and councilors are scheduled for a final vote on whether to authorize the special election.

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The Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District is reducing the scope of its proposed bond measure after residents and the Summit County Council questioned the need for certain amenities and bemoaned the district’s growing price tag.

Basin Recreation last month unveiled plans for a $150 million general obligation bond to build a climbing facility in Jeremy Ranch and an aquatic center in Silver Creek, and each building would also have weight and cardio machines like the Fieldhouse. 

Robert Parrish, the district’s executive director, said the expansion is necessary because the Fieldhouse has an “existing capacity deficit” that will only become more apparent as developers build new residential units in the Snyderville Basin.

“There are going to be more of us sharing the same limited resources that we currently have,” Parrish said. “Our hope is we can use this as an opportunity to also expand and provide additional amenities that the community has asked for.”

The facilities’ amenities were determined through multiple surveys and engagement sessions with residents, and the district proposed the $150 million bond in an effort to afford specialized equipment, indoor fields and a lap pool, which community members requested, in addition to the buildings’ construction.

For primary homeowners, the bond would have added $25 for each $100,000 of a property’s market rate value. For example, the owner of a $1 million home would have paid $255 annually under the bond structure, and the owner of a $1.5 million home would have paid $375.

Secondary homeowners and businesses would also have paid an increased fee of $46 for each $100,000 of a property’s market rate value.

However, those numbers did not include Basin Recreation’s base tax rate or the cost of the district’s two previous bonds, which are still being paid off. With the two other bonds included, a primary homeowner would have paid $478 annually for a $1 million property while a business or secondary homeowner would have paid $870.

County Councilor Chris Robinson asked Parrish for the total amount the bond would cost taxpayers, including the base rate. But Parrish did not have a number during Wednesday’s meeting.

Two Summit County residents addressed the County Council with concerns about the bond’s price tag, with one speaker telling Parrish she was confident that voters would reject the proposal on Election Day if the measure were placed on the ballot.

Orlie Bush, who also commented on the proposal, estimated she would pay $2,800 to Basin Recreation annually between her tax bill and $600 12-month membership to use the district’s facilities.

“Like many people, I feel like I’m being taxed out of my home,” Bush said. “Is it the community’s responsibility to provide this? It’s like a private health club. … It’s not reasonable at all, and I think I speak for a lot of the homeowners who have been here a while.”

All five county councilors told Parrish they received “negative feedback” from constituents about the proposal.

County Councilor Tonja Hanson specifically said she would reject the measure in its entirety if it were up to councilors rather than voters.

“I’m absolutely against raising property taxes,” Hanson said. “We are taxing people out of our county. We’ve got the mega rich who can afford it, but we have other people who cannot.”

County Councilor Megan McKenna agreed with Hanson, saying many residents are already struggling financially without the addition of a new bond payment. However, McKenna and Hanson favored putting the bond measure on the ballot anyway to let Snyderville Basin residents determine their future.

But Robinson called putting the bond on the ballot “risky” because it likely wouldn’t pass, potentially undermining the community’s trust in the County Council. He also said he was worried Parrish was “underplaying, understating or underconsidering” the district’s increase in operating costs to run the two facilities.

“It’s a risky gamble, and the risk is not just for Basin Rec and its reputation and credibility, but it’s also for future things that we collectively as a government may want to put on a ballot,” Robinson said.

County Council Vice Chair Roger Armstrong similarly urged Basin Recreation leadership to lower the bond amount or abandon the proposal altogether. He said overcrowding at the Fieldhouse is an issue, but he encouraged the district to find a less expensive solution and provide a “core” fitness facility rather than amenities like a swimming pool or climbing wall.

“The public could take a look at our authorization of a bond that size and decide that we’ve really lost our way and lost our minds in even allowing that to go up for a vote,” Armstrong said. “My biggest fear would be to put something significant like this on the ballot, have it defeated and it then poisons future open space bonds, future other bonds that we really need because it leaves such a bad taste.”

County Council Chair Canice Harte also appeared cautious of the bond’s high price tag, but he told Parrish he would vote to put it on the ballot for voters to decide if that was still the route the district preferred after hearing the feedback.

Parrish declined to move forward with the County Council’s vote, telling Harte that his staff will work on creating a more feasible budget for the facilities.

Parrish said after the meeting that he does not yet know how much the district will request, but he expects the amount to be “half or less” of the current proposal. He also said the change may mean Basin Recreation builds only one of the facilities or downsizes both buildings to be under budget.

The County Council is scheduled to hear the revised proposal on Aug. 19. The last day to submit the bond measure to the state for it to appear on the Election Day ballot is Sept. 4.

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The Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District is exploring a potential public-private partnership to build a sculpture garden and mini-golf course, likely on the property of its future Silver Creek facility.

Jennifer Riff, a Park City resident, proposed the joint venture to the district’s board earlier this month. She said she’s in the process of creating a registered nonprofit to formalize an agreement with Basin Recreation if board members ultimately approve the project.

Specifically, Riff suggested building a 14-hole mini-golf course surrounded by a sculpture garden with themes and motifs important to Park City. She listed the area’s mining history and Olympic involvement as examples, adding that the sculptures would be interactive and educational for visitors.

Riff said the mini-golf course would also fill a niche underserved in Summit County: “casual recreation” for all ages.

The project wouldn’t come with a new price tag for taxpayers, though. Basin Recreation is already considering a $150 million bond to build the Silver Creek facility, as well as one in Jeremy Ranch.

Riff said her nonprofit would front construction costs as long as Basin Recreation provides land and bathroom access. The nonprofit would also operate the course, with a portion of the proceeds going to Basin Recreation. The nonprofit’s earnings would go toward operational costs and purchasing more artwork for the sculpture garden.

Tickets would cost between $10 and $15 depending on the customer’s age and whether they’re a Basin Recreation member. There would not be a restaurant on the course, but a food stand would likely sell prepackaged drinks and ice cream.

The board appeared to support the idea, with multiple members praising Riff for wanting to provide amenities to all families without increasing the district’s budget or requiring additional taxpayer funding. Basin Recreation Executive Director Robert Parrish said he thought the project “could be very successful” and help the district in the future.

“If we set this up and we do it right, it would actually set a precedent and attract others,” he said, referring to public-private partnerships. “We’ve had a couple of other people come in and propose some projects, and we could potentially set up those projects under a similar idea. I think it’s good.”

Riff said the nonprofit would need 1.5 to 2 acres of land to accommodate the mini-golf course and sculpture garden, and she suggested a 20-year lease with Basin Recreation to govern the agreement.

Parrish told board members the Cline Dahle property in Jeremy Ranch is too small for the project, meaning it would likely be built on the district’s Silver Creek parcel if it comes to fruition. He also responded to concerns about water use, saying the mini-golf course would have turf instead of grass and be intentionally landscaped to reduce water needs.

Parrish advocated for expanding the sculpture garden in the future, too.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be at the mini-golf course,” he said. “We could make more of the property, as you’re walking through trails, have more installations. We could make this more of a site concept rather than just a small portion of it. There’s room for that there.”

Riff said her team can’t design the mini-golf course until the nonprofit knows which piece of land it’ll potentially be leasing from Basin Recreation, but she estimated the design and construction process would take a year and a half.

The board did not take any action on the project this month. However, board members agreed to continue the conversation with Riff and to delve deeper into the idea at the committee level before bringing a more comprehensive proposal for a vote.

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The Summit County Council will likely hold a public hearing next month for residents to comment on the Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District’s proposed $150 million bond to fund new facilities in Jeremy Ranch and Silver Creek.

The 20-year bond would allow the district to build a climbing facility in Jeremy Ranch and an aquatic center in Silver Creek, but each building would also have weight and cardio machines like the Fieldhouse.

Basin Recreation Executive Director Robert Parrish told the County Council this week that the expansion is necessary as developments in the Snyderville Basin, like Altus Park City, come online over the next few years and increase the demand for services.

“We have development coming,” Parrish said. “In the next 10 years, we’re going to go from about 25,000 up to over 30,000 residents in the Basin. That’s a 20% increase.”

Parrish said the bond amount was determined based on feedback from residents about the project’s scope and desired amenities, plus creating a more connected experience for patrons.

“What it would create is an east, a west and a central zone in the district, with the intent and the hope that we would also have trail connectivity so that the residents that are on the west side of Pinebrook and Jeremy Ranch have trail features,” he said. “They could potentially walk or bike to the recreation facility and not have to come into (Kimball) Junction, not get on I-80.”

The bond would fund construction of the buildings, while impact fees, grants and public-private partnerships would pay for equipment and outdoor facilities.

“We’re not solely relying on tax dollars and property tax dollars to fund their recreation,” Parrish said. “We’re hoping as we go through this process that we will be able to identify cost savings and bring the cost down.”

Ryan Bruce, chair of Basin Recreation’s control board, told councilors the bond amount, how it would be distributed and other financial decisions are based on data collected through various surveys, audits and public engagement sessions.

“We’re reducing our fleet,” Bruce said. “We’re making sure it makes sense. We are taking control in understanding every bit of work that has to be done on every facility to plan for it and to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

Parrish said he expects the construction’s total cost to be between $120 and $125 million, but the district is asking for $150 million as a safeguard for rising prices and unexpected roadblocks. He added that the district is also auditing its fee structure to raise more funding and modernize the membership structure.

“Right now, in looking at our cost recovery model based on similar recreation districts along with the national average, our fee recovery is actually less than what it should be,” Parrish said. “We’re probably at about 25% to 30% cost recovery. We do need to increase our fees, and our residents have actually mentioned that. A lot of them have said that we’re undercharging for a lot of the programs.”

County Councilor Chris Robinson expressed concerns about the long-term operations of the district, pointing out that the new buildings would double the square footage of Basin Recreation’s facilities.

“My recollection was that you sought a higher property tax increase for operations through Truth in Taxation, and we clipped your wings a little bit,” Robinson said. “That was just to manage what you’ve got now.”

Parrish said the district is already revising its strategic plan to account for the additional employees it will need to hire to run the facilities. Specifically, he said the increased fees should cover staffing costs and that a third-party company may be brought in to run operations.

“We’re going to start working in that direction now rather than wait for years until we’re ready to open and realize we don’t have enough,” Parrish said. “This will be planned for as we go through the process.”

County Council Vice Chair Roger Armstrong was also nervous about the ongoing operational cost of the new buildings. He told Parrish an aquatic center had been pitched to the County Council before, but councilors never felt comfortable following through with the idea.

“In the past, anytime when an aquatic facility has been mentioned, it’s been almost an immediate ‘not a chance’ because the (operations and maintenance) on aquatics is actually quite high,” he said. “It’s been on the list forever. It’s not an accident that it hasn’t been built before now.”

Robinson said he wanted to see a forecasted operations budget to prevent Basin Recreation from returning to the County Council to request a property tax increase after the facilities are built, but Parrish said it’s too early in the process to know those particular costs.

He estimated designing the facilities would take at least a year, followed by another year of construction, giving the district time to outline an operational budget within its means.

Robinson was also curious about Basin Recreation’s backup plan if the bond fails in November. Parrish said the district could save impact fees, but they likely wouldn’t cover the cost of the project because they need to be used within six years under state law.

Instead, the district would likely save impact fees and seek public-private partnerships, which Parrish warned could fundamentally change the nature of the projects because the district would be held accountable to a third-party investor.

The County Council did not take any action on the bond this week, but the county government plans to hold a public hearing on the proposal in the Snyderville Basin on Aug. 5.

Parrish said the County Council will need to pass a resolution authorizing the district to pursue the bond by Sept. 4 to place the measure on the Election Day ballot.

Information on the proposed bond and new facilities is available by visiting basinrecreationutah.gov/better-basin.

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Summit County residents interested in the future of the Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District will have an opportunity to speak with staff and study potential designs for two new facilities next week as Basin Recreation prepares a bond measure for the November ballot to fund the construction.

Basin Recreation Executive Director Robert Parrish said the two facilities will be built on the county’s Cline Dahle parcel in Jeremy Ranch and a district-owned property in Silver Creek Village. 

The two facilities will likely duplicate some offerings available at the Fieldhouse to reduce demand, like weight machines, but Parrish said the Silver Creek Village complex would likely be larger and aquatics-focused while the East Canyon complex on the Cline Dahle property would have more courts and climbing walls.

Parrish said the facilities were designed based on feedback from Basin Recreation patrons in May, and the open houses next week will give residents a chance to engage in the process further as the district works to garner voter support for a bond measure in November to fund construction.

“We need to look at how we can plan for facilities to meet current resident needs, as well as plan for growth,” Parrish said. “What we’re hoping to do is have a bond measure that will not only restructure our current bond debt, which we will then pay off early, but also bond for the new facilities.”

The bond amount won’t be revealed until next week’s open houses. However, Parrish said the proposal aims to add less than $300 onto a property owner’s annual tax bill, with the final amount likely being around $200 depending on a property’s value.

Parrish said Basin Recreation specifically designed the facilities for add-ons, too.

“We designed the buildings so that they’re scalable, so if the initial price is more than what people are willing to do right now, we still have options that at least get the base facility built, and we can always expand it later on,” he said.

Parrish acknowledged Snyderville Basin residents’ previous opposition to tax increases to fund Basin Recreation programs and facility upgrades, but he said the district is intentionally considering the impact the bond would have on individuals’ budgets to propose something manageable.

He said he’s also heard repeated concerns that Summit County residents are fronting costs for commuters or Salt Lake Valley residents who use the Fieldhouse. In response, Parrish said Basin Recreation is auditing its financial structure to see how much to charge out-of-county patrons to ensure its pricing is fair for local users.

“We’re looking for the bond to pay for the building itself, and we can fund the programs using program fees, but we can also use impact fees to help with some of the things that would then outfit these buildings to be fully functional,” Parrish said. “It’s more than just the bond that’ll be paying for this. New developments, non-residents will be paying a good portion of what will go into these facilities, as well as the residents.”

Parrish said the facilities could open as soon as 2029 if the bond measure were to pass in November. Specifically, he said Basin Recreation would spend the next year finalizing its designs, with construction likely starting in the spring or summer of 2028. 

He estimated construction would take a year and a half.

“That’s important, though, because of the planned developments that are coming,” Parrish said, referring to Altus Park City, formerly known as the Dakota Pacific project, and other housing projects slated for development in the next 10 years. “A lot of these new units that are coming in will already be online by then, so we’re going to see growth coming very soon. My hope is that by the time the new housing goes in and there are people living there, our facilities are coming online around the same time to mitigate the impact.”

Parrish and other Basin Recreation staff will be available to talk to residents about the project in depth on Wednesday at one of its three open houses: 8 to 10 a.m. at the Matt Knoop Memorial Park, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fieldhouse and 5 to 7 p.m. at the Trailside Park Administrative Building.

Information on the open houses is available at basinrecreationutah.gov/events/better-basin-facility-preview.

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A project to make the Trailside Wheels Park more accessible and inclusive for people of all ages and abilities is moving forward.

The Administrative Control Board of Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District voted unanimously on June 11 to approve the conceptual design, which completely renovates the skate park with new street-style terrain and a warm-up/beginner area. 

The design also expands the skate park’s footprint from 16,000 square feet to a little more than 25,000 square feet. Included in that expansion are about 4,500 square feet of transition-style features and 3,000 square feet of integrated pump track. 

Phase two of the project now begins for Spohn Ranch, a Los Angeles-based company specializing in skate park design that was hired to overhaul the facility. This construction documentation phase includes finalizing drawings and specifications for the project. Spohn Ranch is handling all aspects of construction, including labor, materials and equipment.

The plan is to transform the skate park into a modern “wheels park” that serves a broad range of users, including those on skateboards, scooters, BMX bikes and inline skates. 

The skate park was created at Trailside in 2010 by placing prefabricated features on an outdoor skating rink. 

“This approach limits performance and durability when compared to purpose-built skateparks,” a district staff report says. “After more than a decade of use, the facility has outgrown its original design, and a renovation is now needed to replace and modernize aging components.”

The design was developed with the help of community input. Staff members and Spohn Ranch representatives made presentations at an open house and a town hall-style meeting of proposed features, took feedback from attendees and offered an online survey. Two conceptual designs were shown at the town hall and there was a clear consensus among participants that one of them was preferred.

“We wanted to create something that’s wheel friendly,” Jason Baldessari, Spohn Ranch’s global director of skatepark development, told the board. “So as long as you don’t have a motor, we want you to be able to come here, use this facility, and not only have fun, but also challenge yourself. We designed features in here that can be used by adaptive users.”

The design also focuses on the experience of non-users, such as parents who plan to stay at the park watching their children skate, Baldessari said. No one likes waiting in a car, especially on a warm day, and a plaza provides a comfortable and shaded space for them to sit, he said.

In addition, he said the skate park is not going to have a negative impact on adjacent amenities, including a basketball court and a shade structure, as well as a future parking lot expansion.

After the public engagement, additional geotechnical work was done on the site and showed extremely shallow bedrock, the staff report says. 

“This shifted the extent and depth of some features, but the design was still within the public’s expressed acceptable range,” the report says.

The approved project cost is $1.85 million and the funds are coming through Basin Recreation’s capital improvements budget and impact fees. In addition, the district staff applied for a grant from the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation and was awarded $500,000, which will offset the cost.

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Two new facilities with lap and recreation pools, indoor courts and turf fields, top rope and bouldering walls, and fitness and weight rooms could be built in the Snyderville Basin — if voters are willing to pay for them.

The Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District announced its intent to pursue a general obligation bond to fund the construction of two new facilities, located in Silver Creek Village and Jeremy Ranch, on the November ballot. 

The Silver Creek Village project would be larger and aquatics-focused, while the East Canyon complex on the Cline Dahle parcel would be courts and climbing-centered. District leaders said the goal is to alleviate crowding at the existing Fieldhouse, prepare for population growth and expand fitness offerings to provide a full-package experience.

Basin Recreation had considered a bond to build another facility for a decade but never formally pursued one because residents might not back it. However, Executive Director Robert Parrish told the Summit County Council on Wednesday that feedback collected earlier this year shows there could finally be enough support for voters to approve the funding. 

Parrish wasn’t ready to disclose how much the bond would be worth or how much it would increase residents’ property taxes, though he anticipated those numbers would be ready next month. Parrish said district officials are looking at structuring its current bond debt so the impact of the new bond would not go on top of the existing debt.

He noted the key question for voters will be how much more they are willing to spend for what they’re gaining in return. 

“We asked (survey takers) about whether they would see … a $75 to $150 a year increase as reasonable, or $150 to $200 to $300,” Parrish said. “There were quite a few respondents that say that there was value if we could do both these facilities. There’s value in that higher, higher range.”

In May, Basin Recreation conducted open houses and an online survey, which garnered about 1,400 responses, indicating there’s “suppressed demand” with the existing Fieldhouse. 

About 61% of respondents said they avoid The Fieldhouse due to crowding, and 51% of people who have never actually been said they avoid it for the same reason. The survey also found 29% of people use the facility less often than they want, with 25% choosing somewhere else because of The Fieldhouse’s capacity.

Parrish said an upcoming impact fee facility plan also shows the building will reach capacity next year, while residents already feel it’s packed in practice. He noted the number of new housing developments, including those at Cline Dahle and near Silver Creek, and said the demand for recreation will outpace Basin Recreation’s current capacity unless new facilities are built.

Public input appears to have inspired Basin Recreation to expand its plans for the facilities.

The Silver Creek Village recreation center was initially proposed at 76,000 square feet — smaller than the 84,000 square foot Fieldhouse — but residents said that was too small. Parrish said the building would be increased to 120,000 square feet.

Silver Creek was also the favored site for aquatic activities. Community feedback favored a family recreation pool with slides, similar to the South Summit Aquatic & Fitness Center, and noted more than four lanes would be needed for a lap pool.

“The community shows … don’t go small,” Parrish said. “Don’t make it too small from the beginning. Go the right size.”

Other amenities could include an indoor turf, larger than the current field and sized for 9-v-9 soccer, as well as the ability to divide the field so two teams can practice. Parrish said the intent is to relieve pressure on indoor and outdoor fields and allow earlier-season practices. There would also be a track and more space for strength, cardio and fitness training, as well as specialized practices like yoga and Pilates.

The East Canyon complex in Jeremy Ranch was also too small for residents at 42,000 square feet. Parrish said the working plan is to expand the building to 64,000 square feet, which will still fit on the property despite wetland constraints.

The larger complex will allow Basin Recreation to implement a “full spec” climbing facility, which was a strong desire among residents. Parrish envisioned 40-foot climbing walls for top rope and space for bouldering, something to serve as a replacement for The Mine, which was a former bouldering gym in Kimball Junction. There would be three additional indoor courts for basketball, volleyball, racket sports and multi-use programming, too. 

Parrish said public feedback also favored a wellness identity at the East Canyon location. This could include a sauna and cold plunge, essentially pairing fitness and recovery spaces to create a “total wellness” experience.

The ultimate goal is for the two new facilities to be differentiated but complementary to The Fieldhouse. Basin Recreation also wants to target niche fitness communities such as climbers or pickleballers, who would travel to use the facilities.

Parrish said the three facilities would be spread across key neighborhoods in the Snyderville Basin, providing residents with diverse fitness options closer to home and allowing them to avoid overcrowding. One Basin Recreation membership would provide access to all three facilities. 

The district also plans to present a new fee structure before the next budget cycle, which will clearly state what a Snyderville Basin resident pays versus a nonresident. 

“I think that’ll go a long way to showing our residents that … we’re charging them appropriately, but the nonresidents that are coming in, they’re going to be charged completely different rate, and it’ll be visible and viable,” Parrish said. “Then those fees come right back into the programs and help support the facilities.”

He added that property taxes may also trend down as more people move into the district and contribute to paying off the bond.

Parrish said the bond is passable, but there’s a trust that must be built. Around 58% of people surveyed in 2023 said the district does a good job, but less than 24% said the district uses tax money wisely. Initial support for the bond three years ago was just under 49%, which was below the passage threshold.

“We know we have some gaps to overcome,” Parrish said.

Public outreach and messaging will be key for Basin Recreation over the next few months. A second round of public sessions is planned for July 8 and Parrish will return to the County Council on July 15 with another update, including the proposed bond structure and refined costs.

County councilors were largely in support of the two-facility strategy rather than a phased approach separated by years because of construction costs. They advised Basin Recreation to develop clear, simple messaging about why the facilities are being built, why they’re needed now and how property tax bills will be affected.

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The Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District is hosting a series of open houses next week to hear feedback from community members regarding what they’d like to see included in future facilities.

“I wouldn’t say growth in the district has exceeded expectations, but we’re at a point where the Fieldhouse is at its capacity,” said Basin Recreation Director Robert Parrish. “We’re starting to see a decline in service levels, and our customers and residents are having to wait for exercise equipment … so there is a need for additional facilities or additional programming in the district.”

Parrish said Basin Recreation is specifically looking for opinions on its Silver Creek Village property and the Cline Dahle project, an affordable housing development that the Summit County Council is currently negotiating with Columbus Pacific Development. The finalized Cline Dahle development agreement is expected to include land for new Basin Recreation facilities, as well as the Park City Fire District.

“This is our opportunity to continue the community conversation about what recreation should look like in the Snyderville Basin, and we want our response to be shaped directly by public input,” Parrish said. “I can sit here at my desk and formulate plans and say, ‘This is what we’re going to do,’ and I could completely miss the mark. We are public servants, and we’re here because the residents wanted a recreation district, so we need to speak to and listen to residents.”

Parrish said community members have repeatedly told Basin Recreation staff that there is a need for year-round recreation options. The Cline Dahle and Silver Creek Village properties are an opportunity to install those types of facilities in Summit County, but Parrish said the district still needs information on what specific amenities people are hoping to see.

“We want to hear not just from existing Fieldhouse users, but from folks who might not assume that this project that we’re doing would be for them, so, trailrunners, cyclists, climbers, outdoor users of all types,” Parrish said. “There’s an opportunity with indoor facilities to extend a summer or fair weather activity with indoor programming to continue training or otherwise enjoying that activity, so we’re seeing a potential for the new facilities as hubs within a larger outdoor recreation network.”

The district hopes to develop a mix of new offerings in addition to extending overcrowded services to other parts of the Snyderville Basin, Parrish said. For example, wait times at the Fieldhouse continue to increase as demand grows, so Basin Recreation is considering building a similar facility on one of its two properties to relieve pressure and move amenities closer to residents in other areas of the county.

“We have our open houses coming up next week, and then we’re going to synthesize that information and work with a designer to come up with some concepts of what the facility would have and what it would look like,” Parrish said. “Then we’re going to bring that back to the public and get their input on the facility.”

Parrish said district staff also want to engage with community members to explore their willingness to support the project financially, either through property taxes or a bond initiative on Election Day.

“If there is a bond measure that is passed, we would immediately begin developing schematic drawings based on input, and then the plan is that we could potentially break ground sometime in the spring or summer of 2028,” Parrish said, referring to the Silver Creek Village property.

The development timeline for the Cline Dahle parcel is less clear, though, because negotiations between Columbus Pacific Development and the County Council are ongoing. However, Parrish said he is hopeful that a decision will be reached by the end of the year to help Basin Recreation start planning for that property as well.

“We’re also taking a look at everything else that we do within our budget and how we operate because we know that if we take over and we build new facilities, we have to operate them efficiently and effectively and live within our means,” Parrish added. “We’re taking an opportunity to look at our budget, how we staff, what we’re spending funds on and doing it efficiently to make sure we’re investing taxpayer dollars wisely.”

There will be three open house sessions next week: 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Fieldhouse, 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Trailside Park, and 12:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday at the Fieldhouse.

Basin Recreation also has an online survey for community members who are unable to attend the open houses. The survey is available online at basinrecreationutah.gov/finding-new-ways-to-play.

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