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Kearns • As dignitaries wielded shovels for a ceremonial groundbreaking Monday, earth-moving equipment did the real work in the background, creating the contours of what will become Lodestone Regional Park.
The 62-acre park at 6170 W. 5990 South, straddling the border of West Valley City and unincorporated Kearns Township, is the first of three regional parks that will be developed through a $47 million bond approved by Salt Lake County voters in 2012.
"Salt Lake County families and residents love their parks and open space," Mayor Ben McAdams said in a windy news conference at the hilly site, which offers striking views of Kennecott's tailings piles from the mines in Bingham and Barneys canyons.
About $5 million from the parks bond, approved by roughly 56 percent of county voters, will be devoted to turning that hillside into a park with lots of open grassy areas, playing fields and ball diamonds, pickleball, tennis and basketball courts, separate playgrounds for little kids and bigger ones, pavilions and a perimeter walking path.
McAdams said the development of Lodestone and other regional parks in Bluffdale and Draper will enable residents to "take a break away from work, chores, video games and television" to engage in active recreation and enjoy being outdoors. "It's a great place for friends and neighbors to get together."
State Sen. Karen Mayne lauded local government officials in West Valley City and the county for working together on this multi-jurisdictional park to produce a plan that matches community desires.
"Look at the homes. Look at the growth. We need open space," she said, pointing to subdivisions to the east, north and south of the park.
"This is what happens on the west side," said Mayne, D-West Valley City. "We work together for the common good. Those from the east side will want to come over here and play in our park."
"It's a good time to be part of Kearns Township," added Patrick Leary, who oversees the unincorporated townships, citing the development of the regional park, the restoration of Bruce Field and other smaller projects to build the community's amenities and tax base.
The park's three side-by-side basketball courts are being funded through a $25,000 grant from Larry H. Miller Charities and the Utah Jazz.
"The Utah Jazz want to contribute to the community where people live, work and play. Health and wellness is an important tenet of our company," said Larry H. Miller representative Frank Zang. "We love to see people get out and play basketball and hope the courts foster dreams for kids."
Besides allocating $5 million for Lodestone Regional Park, the bond also provided:
• $11.5 million for work on the Jordan River Parkway.
• $9 million for five sections of Parleys Trail.
• $6 million for the Gene and Deane Wheadon Farm on 64 acres in Draper.
• $10 million for Southwest Regional Park on 80 acres in Bluffdale.
• $5.5 million to buy the old Hercules site for a 60-acre regional park in Magna.
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