But the soccer fields and baseball diamonds haven't been built yet and the private fundraising needed to get the complex constructed is slow going.

In fact, none of the $7.5 million has been raised. Those funds must be in place before the city will issue $15.3 million in bonds.

On Tuesday, city Public Services Director Rick Graham said it might be easier to find donors if the city spent money to come up with firmer plans for the sports complex and completed an environmental analysis of the proposed location, on 190 acres at 2300 North between Redwood Road and I-215.

Graham proposes diverting $350,000 from an existing city park, Rosewood in the Rose Park neighborhood, to get work going on the sports complex. If the sports complex bonds are issued, Rosewood would get its money back.

While the neighborhood has waited 10 years to see improvements at Rosewood to turn it into a more family-friendly park with a walking track, picnic tables and a skate park, the neighbors support Graham's idea. Rosewood is overrun with soccer leagues and Kenneth Neal, chairman of the Rose Park Community Council, said getting the sports complex built will eventually help the community transform Rosewood.

"We can't really turn that into a family-oriented park until we do something with the sports," he said.

"It's essential that sports complex get rolling."

City Council members will decide Dec. 13 if they will divert the money. Tuesday night, some were skeptical, wondering why the city should spend money when no donations have been raised.

Even if the $7.5 million is raised, Councilwoman Nancy Saxton suggested the city may not build the complex because the city may ask voters to bond for other projects, including building a new public safety buildling for police and firefighters and a new fleet facility.

Citizens voted for the sports complex but "that doesn't mean we have to do it. . . . At some point we may need to prioritize," she said.

hmay@sltrib.com