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New upgrades are coming to parks in Salt Lake City, West Jordan and Herriman — if you vote for them

If approved, most of the funds will go toward new projects across Salt Lake County.

(Francisco Kjolseth  | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sam Anderson, 13, and his brother Jacob, 11, assess the “big drops” at a new mountain bike park taking shape at Lodestone Regional Park in Kearns on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. The park is one of many that could receive upgrades if Salt Lake County's recreation bond passes.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sam Anderson, 13, and his brother Jacob, 11, assess the “big drops” at a new mountain bike park taking shape at Lodestone Regional Park in Kearns on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. The park is one of many that could receive upgrades if Salt Lake County's recreation bond passes.

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Nearly $130 million in parks and recreation funding is on the ballot this fall, and it won’t cost taxpayers any additional fees.

The Salt Lake County Council approved the issuance of up to $128 million in general obligation bonds in August, which will fund 30 projects for the county’s regional parks, trails, open spaces and recreation facilities, according to a news release. The council had initially only approved up to $100 million in these bonds, but added additional funds to ensure allocations toward projects in West Jordan and Salt Lake City.

What will it pay for?

The majority of the funds — about $62. 3 million — will go toward building new projects, including an all-abilities playground at Library Square in Salt Lake City, an athletic complex in Herriman and a recreation center in West Jordan. Nearly $36 million of the funds will go toward repairs and upgrades to current facilities, while the remaining nearly $30 million will be used to finish up final construction on existing projects, along with project contingency funding.

What’s the cost?

Similar bonds authorized in 2016 will be paid off soon. The new bonds, if approved, will replace that expiring debt. Residents wouldn’t see an increase or decrease on their tax bills, because the cost for the new bonds would be the same as the 2016 bonds — roughly $16.39 per year for the average county resident with a home worth $658,000.

What are these bonds?

General obligation bonds are voter-approved loans repaid through property taxes, according to a news release from the county. They provide upfront funding for major infrastructure projects, and voters have approved similar bonds to build and repair county-owned facilities every 10 years since 1996.

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