This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Salt Lake City leaders scratched their seven-year itch over soccer, but it was painful.
By a tortured 5-2 vote, a $22.8 million soccer complex was born Tuesday along the Jordan River in the city's northwest corner.
It is scheduled to be done next fall. But the final release of 2003's $15.3 million bond — and a $7.5 million "gift" from Real Salt Lake — comes seven years after city voters actually approved the now 16-field project.
In the ensuing years, the complex at 2200 North near Rose Park, ensnared two mayoral administrations and multiple councils like Spain's passing game.
Environmental concerns led to court fights. Cost overruns prompted delays. And an open-records feud with the Jordan River Restoration Network whipped whispers into howls about a secret city agenda to house an elite academy for Real Salt Lake.
Council members and Mayor Ralph Becker wrestled the question — whether to build a "pay to play" recreation complex in a flood plain during a queasy economy — for more than a year.
As a tonic, they settled on a commitment to restoring the river's riparian corridor — though the estimated $1 million to pay for it has yet to be funded.
"It's an integrity thing," Councilman Carlton Christensen declared.
For over an hour, the council fumbled motions and amendments before agreeing on language that requires Becker to come back every six months with an update on the restoration plan.
Out of the $22.8 million, the city has only set aside $61,000 for restoration, according to Public Works Director Rick Graham. What's more, if there are savings during the bidding and construction process, Graham hopes to use the cash for extra bleachers surrounding the stadium field.
But Graham, who notes lacrosse and rugby also will be allowed, was adamant that RSL will receive no special treatment.
"There are absolutely no strings attached to that letter of credit," he said. "There are no hidden deals that Real has any prescribed access to this facility."
As now planned, the complex will sport 60 percent league play, 30 percent recreational play and 10 percent tournament play. But kids, or more likely families, will pay to play, Graham said.
That didn't stop Councilwoman Jill Remington Love from endorsing the money move. "It has been years in coming," she said. "There's not a soccer Saturday that goes by when a soccer parent doesn't ask me, 'When are those fields coming?' "
Council Chairman J.T. Martin also defended the council's green light.
"We have been called liars. That we're on the take. That we're inept," he said. "I'd like to add that we're thoughtful. That we're balanced. That we take all things into account."
The pared-back plan calls for 15 regular soccer fields, seven to be under lights, and one lit championship field with seating for 2,000. There will be bathrooms, concessions stands and roughly 1,000 parking stalls.
The three-phase restoration plan sets aside 23 acres on the west bank of the river and 21 acres on the east side as open space. It also calls for two irrigation ponds and 600 trees. Becker hopes the move will repair the riparian corridor — providing flood-plain protection — and restore wildlife habitat. The council declared their "intent" to fund plan over time.
Due to a surge in utilities costs, a water well, and the addition of a 3,000-square-foot administration building, the two baseball fields planned for phase one have been pushed back indefinitely.
Still, Councilman Luke Garrott argued, there is no evidence the 2003 bond was a corrupt election. "The day we start throwing out election results is the day I don't want to be living in this country," he said.
The project is on budget, he added, and only possible since the city got the land cheap from the state. Plus the site, he said, is not a pristine, natural area. "This is Salt Lake City, may I emphasize. We've already altered our natural environment."
Critics fumed the fields are irresponsible during a recession, particularly when the city is turning off street-lights, canceling kids programs and laying off veteran employees.
"It makes no sense to me," Joan Gregory told the council. "While it was approved in 2003, this is a very different time."
Providing play space for a few elite soccer prospects rather than a nature center for thousands of school kids is "just insane," added city resident Dan Potts.
Councilman Van Turner, nervous about stripping money from neighborhoods for a nebulous restoration fund, voted no on the whole project.
"We need to be conserving. We need to keep our lights on. We need to keep our services up," he said. "Need to get back to basics."
Turner was joined by Councilman Soren Simonsen.
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