Salt Lake County officials cite those problems and others as part of a maintenance wish list plaguing county parks and recreation facilities to the tune of $20 million to $30 million.

Officials finger Father Time as the felon.

"Facilities that were built in the '50s and '60s are coming to the end of their life span," complains Chris Crowley, community services director for the county. "It just so happens that they're all happening at once."

Crowley's team has packed the worst offenders into a slide show - one official describes it as appalling - that the County Council will view today.

Mayor Peter Corroon says he has seen enough shoddy conditions, including missing letters on recreation center signs, to get his attention.

"The public doesn't want to use old, decrepit buildings," he says. "If we've got a lot of toys, we've got to maintain the ones we have."

The trick will be how to fund the millions in maintenance upgrades at the same time county leaders contemplate a new round of Zoo, Arts and Parks projects sure to be bloated with requests for fancy new gyms.

Corroon and Crowley say any circumstance that poses a public-safety concern will get priority. They point to uneven concrete near some public pools, leaky roofs and run-down heating and cooling systems. One center even crammed its concession stand right next to the busy restrooms.

"The needs of the community are not being met from a structural standpoint," Crowley adds. "We have facilities that are literally serving thousands and thousands of people - and we have parking for 50."

Overall, the county manages 19 recreation centers and 96 parks, which all compete for the same pool of cash.

Crowley says funding the work will be a delicate balancing act - "We're not looking to rob Peter to pay Paul" - though officials anticipate each facility will remain open.

The top 10 problem spots have been flagged, as well as any area that is out of code or lacks handicap access.

Money for the improvements could be appropriated during 2006 budget negotiations slated for next month, according to Chief Administrative Officer Doug Willmore.

"The capital-improvement budget has been underfunded for years," he says. "The bill's come due."

djensen@sltrib.com

Rec in ruin?

Following are the top 10 facilities

and parks needing resources:

* Northwest Multi-Purpose Center

* Central City Recreation Center

* East Millcreek Recreation Center

* Crestwood Swimming Pool

* Big Cottonwood Regional Park

* Redwood Recreation Center

* Copperview Recreation Center

* Valley Regional Park

* Welby Regional Park

* Little Cottonwood Park

- Source: Salt Lake County

Travel policy to change

No more filet mignon.

That's one perk Salt Lake County officials hope to cut by changing the rules for employees who travel on the taxpayer dime.

Today, the Mayor's Office will present a policy change that stops the practice of turning in travel receipts - opting instead to offer a per diem for employees on county business.

"It's just ludicrous that the county has been paying for these expensive meals and hotels," says Chief Administrative Officer Doug Willmore.

Once official, the new policy will adopt the federal General Services Administration, or GSA rate, for the per diem.

- Derek P. Jensen