The City Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing and confirming the sale of up to $5.9 million in sales-tax revenue bonds to obtain several parcels of open space throughout the city.

The city will be purchasing close to 100 acres for a large 50-acre community park in the West Fields area, three to four 10-acre lots for neighborhood parks and an additional 15 acres for an established park on Springville's east side.

"If we don't pay for them right now, they may very well be gone," said City Administrator Layne Long, referring to the open parcels. "We're ready to move forward with several large land purchases. The critical thing was getting the park parcels identified."

The city will use park-impact fees - not raise sales taxes - to pay for the bonds. Existing sales taxes would only be used to pay off the bonds if fees come up short.

In November, the council approved the new park-impact fees by boosting residential building permits from $1,607 to $4,088 - enough to generate an estimated $1.2 million annually. Fifty percent of that will go toward retiring the bonds in 15 years.

The 50-acre west-side park will include soccer and football fields, a baseball diamond and pavilions. With the added 15 acres, an established park on Springville's east side will grow to 25 acres.

During a short public hearing Tuesday, all those who spoke stood firmly behind the council's decision.

"I am so excited that you have this money set aside," resident Marylyne Witney told the City Council. "I wish you were purchasing more land."

Added Sharon Swapp: "It's really critical that we save some of the valley so everyone can enjoy it and not just let it be someone's backyard."

Long says another benefit of buying the land now is that it allows Springville to plan future subdivisions around the parks - rather than finding ways to create parks around existing homes.

Members of the parks and recreation board have been working on the issue and have created Springville's first parks master plan.