- Salt Lake City's plan for Fairmont Park focuses on connection and sustainability.
- The city seeks a $51 million bond tranche for park improvements and projects citywide.
- Officials previously estimated a $27-$28 property tax increase for the bond's repayment.
SALT LAKE CITY — Sugar House's other big park is about to get a makeover, while Salt Lake City leaders finalize how to pay for the project and updates to a few other parks in Utah's capital city.
Salt Lake City's public lands department unveiled its final design for Fairmont Park on Wednesday, which calls for turning the 27-acre open space into a place that combines "connection, safety, sustainability, and play for all ages."
The city's plan includes more defined spaces for soccer and volleyball, and additional pickleball courts. It also calls for improvements to play areas and the dog park, as well as the area's natural features, especially by the fishing pond on the eastern edge of the park.
The southern end of the McClelland Trail, which runs across several blocks on the city's east end, will also be moved closer to the center of the park. A park ranger station, shade canopy and other facilities are to be included to improve safety and shade in the park, as well.
The design, city officials said, was crafted from the feedback of over 700 residents collected during community meetings, open houses and online surveys in recent months, as the department searched for ways to get people to utilize more park features. It also seeks to improve sustainability by adding more native and drought-tolerant landscapes.
"Fairmont Park is deeply loved by its neighbors, and this design directly reflects what we heard from the community. By looking at the park as a whole rather than piecemealing improvements, we're creating a long-term vision that enhances what people already love while making the park more welcoming, resilient and accessible for generations to come," said Kim Shelley, director of Salt Lake City Public Lands, in a statement.
The project is expected to be broken up into phases, with construction of the first phase potentially beginning in early 2027, according to the city. The $6.5 million project will include a pedestrian and bike promenade along Sugarmont Drive, as well as garden and parking improvements, new play areas, a beginner skate zone and public safety elements.
City closer to next parks bond round
While $3.5 million is needed to complete the rest of the plan, department officials released the final design as the Salt Lake City Council received an update on the next tranche of money from the $85 million bond that residents approved in 2022 for park improvements that will help pay for the first phase.
The city is now exploring a bond tranche of up to a $51 million, which could be slightly more than what was proposed in November. Almost $23.4 million of that would go toward building out the second phase of Glendale Regional Park that opened later last year. Other projects include:
- $5.4 million for Fleet Block open space.
- $2.4 million for Jordan River corridor improvements.
- $1.35 million for construction tied to Warm Springs and North Gateway project.
- $870,400 for salaries, benefits and other operational costs for landscape architects.
- $675,000 each for Cottonwood, Jefferson and Sunnyside improvement projects.
- $441,000 for public art commissions at various parks.
The rest would go into program management and contingency costs.
"This is where we're starting to get into true, real construction. That's the reason that it's going to be the largest of the three (tranches)," said Mary Beth Thompson, Salt Lake City's chief financial officer, adding that breaking the $85 million in smaller tranches would result in larger repayments for residents.
Smaller tranches could also delay construction for projects, parks officials added.
Officials previously estimated it could raise property taxes by $27 to $28 per year for the average home in the city, based on a potential request of $49.3 million, which would go toward repaying the tranche. The final number will be determined after the bond sale.
City leaders may approve the bond as early as Feb. 17, before the city meets with rating agencies in March and goes to market in April to secure bond funds.
The remaining $9.2 million in the overall bond would be sought after at a later time.
Other odds and ends
Some smaller park projects are in line to receive funding from an amendment the city is exploring to its current budget, using recently collected fees. There are other notable items, including nearly $6.4 million for renovations to the old Leonardo Museum and other city buildings.
Another $1 million would go toward a mobile command center for police to improve safety and response times.
That received mixed reviews during a public hearing on Tuesday. Some said it could improve the police's ability to crack down on crime; others voiced concerns with the police's growing use of technology.
The city is also planning to reallocate $400,000 set aside for "Open Streets" this year, which will be split up to pay for other events, such as the city's Olympic viewing party starting on Friday, as well as America250 events and downtown block events.
It likely puts an end to the shutdown of Main Street for street events this year, ending a run that started with trying to bring energy back to downtown during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. But the city is exploring options to transform Main Street for when the Salt Lake Temple open house takes place next year.
"I think this would be a one-year departure," said Jill Love, the city's administrative officer. "We felt like this would be the best use of the funding this year."
Some elements of the adjustment were approved on Tuesday, while the rest are expected to be voted on later this month.
