This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A lake-bottom odor hung in the air as supporters of Proposition A held a news conference Thursday to ask Salt Lake County residents to vote for a $90 million bond for parks and recreation projects.

The smell came from the nearby Sugar House Park pond, which will be given a long overdue dredging if county voters approve the bond, which would be paid off by continuing an expiring tax payment for another decade.

"The revitalization of this lake will breathe new life into the park," said Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, one of many speakers who praised the bond proposal as a means of preserving a high quality of life in the valley despite an ever-increasing population.

A yes vote means the owner of a $295,000 home (the county average) would continue paying $18.18 a year to pay off the bond, while a business of the same value would pay $33.06.

County Mayor Ben McAdams and proposition backers are optimistic county voters will endorse the bond, which would finance 11 new projects worth $59 million and provide another $31 million for 85 upgrades to existing facilities.

Their confidence is based on the 77 percent support county voters showed in 2014 for renewing the tenth-of-a-cent Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP) tax for a third, 10-year period.

The parks portion of the ZAP tax is only about $5 million-$6 million a year, not nearly enough to take on projects big and small across the valley.

So both times ZAP was approved in the past (1997 and 2006), the county went back to voters to supplement the parks budget with money from a bond.

Both times voters agreed.

Because of the county's AAA bond rating, McAdams said the same tax rate used to pay off the last bond can now generate $90 million for new parks, recreation centers, trails and sport courts.

"There's a little for every community in the valley," he added, citing projects from Draper to Magna with the Jordan River in between. "This is an investment in our future."

Cottonwood Heights Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore said the bond addresses his residents' desire for more parks, open space and recreation.

"Virtually every mayor in Salt Lake [County] can say the same thing. … It will benefit all of us and create a better standard of living," Cullimore said, observing that the proposal's wide geographic distribution of projects has limited organized opposition.

For a county-produced voter information pamphlet, a statement against the bond proposal was penned by Steve Van Maren, a Sandy resident who conscientiously attends almost every County Council meeting, tracking issues and making sure government is transparent.

"I have no specific objections to the projects selected," Van Maren wrote, referring to selections made by an advisory council after a lengthy review. But he doesn't believe these are sufficient to "prepare the county for the future … These projects really only address existing needs."

Van Maren's primary concern was that this is the second time in a year that Salt Lake County has extended an expiring bond.

A year ago, the council signed off on McAdams' plan to pay for criminal-justice reforms with revenue from the continuation of a 20-year bond approved originally to pay for building the jail.

Even the Utah Taxpayers Association, a consistent foe of taxes, is not opposing the parks bond.

Vice President Billy Hesterman said his group met with county officials a few months ago and came away convinced that replacing an expiring bond "is a smart move to maintain items that improve quality of life for residents of the county without increasing property taxes on them."

He added, however, that "every resident should examine the bond and determine for themselves if they feel this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds."

Otherwise, opposition to the proposal has been muted.

At Thursday's news conference, former county Mayor Peter Corroon came out to "give two thumbs up" to keeping the parks and recreation investment going and "renovating these facilities that need a little tender loving care."

Steve McIntyre, a leading figure in the horse-riding community's recent effort to save and spruce up the equestrian center in South Jordan, said he'll vote for the proposition to benefit his grandchildren.

"A child will be healthy in mind if it has a healthy and active body," he said, advocating outdoor play on trails, horses and soccer fields.

For Biskupski, it's especially valuable that bond proceeds will be used to make neighborhood parks accessible so that disabled children "no longer will have to sit on the sidelines watching others have fun."

Proposition A projects

Eleven new parks and recreation projects are proposed to divide $59 million of the bond's proceeds. They are:

• Knudsen Nature Park, Holladay, $2.7 million

• Pioneer Crossing Park, West Valley City, $3 million

• Magna Regional Park, $11.2 million

• Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center, $2.4 million

• Wheeler Farm Outdoor Education Center, Murray, $2.75 million

• Welby Regional Park, South Jordan, $12 million

• Jordan River Water Trail, multiple sites, $2.1 million

• White City/Sandy trail, $1.65 million

• Draper City Recreation Center, $19.5 million

• Multi-use outdoor sports courts, Salt Lake City, $25,000

• Oak Hills Tennis Center, Salt Lake City, $1.75 million

Another $31 million is set aside to repair, update or replace existing ZAP parks and recreation facilities.

Source: Salt Lake County