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West Jordan • This is where the parkway ends.
To the south, the meandering blacktop of the Jordan River Parkway disappears, replaced by a foot-trodden dirt trail that extends no farther than 9000 South.
To the north, that same walkway curves into an industrial district on 700 West, stopping at a pad-locked gate with an opening for pedestrians.
And in the middle, a milelong gap keeps joggers, dog walkers and bicyclists from crossing through West Jordan on a trail that has become the scenic centerpiece of Utah's most-populous county.
Now, a movement is underway to finish that section of trail.
The West Jordan City Council — at the urging of Mayor Melissa Johnson — has set aside $250,000 to extend the Jordan River Parkway. The money comes from a voter-approved 2004 open-space bond.
"It is all well and good to say we want to build the trail," Johnson said. "But you show that you are serious when you put money behind it."
The price of the project is probably much higher. Johnson estimates it will cost $800,000 to build the trail itself, plus an additional $1 million to cross 9000 South, perhaps with a tunnel.
Trail advocates consider that portion of the Jordan River Parkway particularly critical when it comes to creating a continuous nonmotorized pathway from the Great Salt Lake to Utah Lake. Why? Because it is the only section standing in the way of an unobstructed route from 200 South to 16000 South in Salt Lake County.
Chris McCandless, vice chairman of the newly formed Jordan River Commission and a member of the Sandy City Council, said its completion would be "monumental."
"I'm going to do a back flip," McCandless mused. "We are coming down the final stretch of the lake-to-lake vision."
The project comes amid a revival of interest in the Jordan River. A coalition of three counties and seven cities came together last August to form a quasi-governmental organization, known as the Jordan River Commission, to shepherd development, guide planning and pursue property acquisition along the river.
The vision is to create a linear park — stretching for an estimated 50 miles — through some of the state's most metropolitan areas with periodic "river centers" that would draw people to the waterfront with restaurants, equipment rentals and public amphitheaters.
As for West Jordan's piece? Considerable work remains. West Jordan officials have begun negotiations with groups such as Sandy, Rocky Mountain Power, canal companies and others to design the trail. They also are looking for the rest of the money to build it.
But Johnson pledged to do all she can to get it done — fast.
"We want this done as soon as possible," she said.
How soon? Johnson wants the pathway in place before she ends her first term as mayor. That's two and a half years away.
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