2 PARKS
West Jordan's parks are a vital component of the City, enhancing the quality of life in the community, providing a welcome respite from the hectic flow of daily life, and creating a complete city and environment. Parks are places to play, relax and reconnect with ourselves, our families and friends, and our community.
As summarized in Chapter 1, West Jordan City recognizes the critical role parks play in the well-being of residents through existing policy expressed in the General Plan and other official directives, which support the equitable provision of high quality parks to meet the needs of the community.
This chapter examines the state of the existing parks in the City, including the number, area, amenities and quality of parks that serve the current population, and the distribution of and access to parks within the community today. We also peer into the future, projecting population growth, to help determine short and long-term needs and distribution requirements to meet needs now and into the future.
SURVEY RESULTS: PARKS
As summarized below and detailed in Appendix A: Public Involvement, the statistically-valid survey asked numerous questions focused on understanding the park-related needs and desires of the public. The following is a summary of the key findings.
Overall, the large majority of residents polled use public parks and recreation facilities to meet their recreation needs. This places great importance on the quality of the City's park system. Residents would rather see existing parks better maintained and upgraded over the development of additional new parks. Furthermore, there is great support for providing parks within walking distance of residential areas. Larger parks with more amenities are desired over smaller parks with less space and fewer amenities. This coincides with the results of the focus interview with City staff, which indicated that Mini Parks place a significant burden on maintenance staff due to the more challenging maintenance routines required for small parks, and the sheer number and wide distribution of the smaller parks. Residents believe such parks do not contribute as significantly as larger parks for meeting their needs.
EXISTING PARKS
The City's first park master plan was developed in the early 1950s, focusing on the development of West Jordan Main Park, now called Veterans Memorial Park. Since that time, the City has developed or acquired an impressive inventory of 46 parks, with over half having been developed since 2000. Map 1 illustrates existing parks and open space that contribute to the City's system. Table 2.1 is a detailed inventory of each of those facilities, describing the various amenities provided in each. The table and map also provide information on parks, open spaces, and other recreational facilities that contribute to the recreation system.
To summarize, there are approximately 967 acres of parks, open space and other facilities that serve the community. Key characteristics used to determine park types include acreage, amenities, ownership and accessibility.
Regional Parks
The largest parks are Regional Parks. These serve the City and region with multiple large specialty features that have a regional draw, such as a sports complex, aquatics facility or splash pad. These parks are generally quite large, encompassing sports fields or courts, pavilions, perimeter walking trails, restrooms, trees, large open grassy areas, picnic areas, and seating.
Regional Parks are typically 30 acres in size or larger. As described below, West Jordan has two regional parks.
Veterans Memorial Park is the 69 acre crown jewel of the West Jordan park system and home to the local rodeo known as the West Jordan Stampede. This park is located adjacent to the West Jordan Civic Center on Redwood Road and is located in close proximity to City Hall, the West Jordan City Library and other civic buildings. The park houses the Gene Fullmer Fitness and Recreation Center, the West Jordan Senior Center and the Historical Society Museum, an outdoor swimming pool, a five-field baseball complex, softball field, sports courts, an accessible Field of Dreams ball field, multiple playgrounds, and a memorial to the City's military veterans.
The Rodeo Arena is located at the south end of the park. Since it serves a less traditional role in meeting recreation needs, it is included in the "Other Recreation Facilities" section that follows.
Ron Wood Park is a 30.4 acre park named after former West Jordan City police officer Ronald Manfred Wood, who was killed in the line of duty in 2002. The park is located on the west side of the City, serving the needs of residents in that district as well as the community at large. The park features a complex of five baseball fields, a splash pad/plaza, numerous sports courts, and the Sierra Newbold Playground, an all-abilities, fully-accessible playground honoring a West Jordan child who was tragically killed in 2012.
Together, these two City-owned Regional Parks encompass 99.4 acres. It should be noted that the City owns an additional 42.1 acres at Ron Wood Park, which is slated for Phase III park development in the near future following the completion of a new master plan. A fourth and final phase of the park is proposed for development in the long-term.
Community Parks
Community Parks serve the City and, to a lesser degree, the region. These parks typically include a large specialty feature such as a sports complex, aquatics facility or skate park that has a community-wide draw. These parks also include features such as sports fields or courts, pavilions, perimeter walking trails, restrooms, trees, large open grassy areas, picnic areas and seating.
Community Parks are typically between 10 and 30 acres in size. As described below, West Jordan currently has two parks that fall within this category - Utah Youth Soccer Complex Phase I and Constitution Park.
Utah Youth Soccer Complex Phase I is a 13.5 acre complex featuring three soccer/multi-purpose fields, a restroom, small playground and pavilions. The park is City-owned. The initial extent of Phase I was larger than presently implemented, as some acreage at the south end of the facility was recently transferred to the City's Public Works Department for use as a service yard. Phase II of the Soccer Complex is owned by Salt Lake City, and is described later in this section.
Constitution Park is a 14.1 acre park focused on active recreation with softball fields, tennis courts, a playground, restroom and reservable pavilions.
Together, Community Parks total 27.6 acres with an average size of 13.8 acres.
Neighborhood Parks
Neighborhood Parks are smaller than Community Parks, typically four to ten acres in size. These parks provide amenities that are focused on meeting the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods. They typically feature sports courts and/or fields, perimeter walking paths, along with trees, open grassy areas, a playground and pavilion, picnic areas and seating and usually a restroom.
Neighborhood Parks in West Jordan include Browns Meadow Park, Dixie Valley Park, Grizzly Park, Jordan Meadows Park, Oaks Park West, Park Village Park, Railroad Park, Shadow Mountain Park, Stone Creek Park, Teton Estates Park and Wildflower Park. These eleven Neighborhood Parks comprise 66.5 acres of land, ranging in size from 4.1 acres to 12.0 acres with an average of 6.04 acres. One park in this category, Teton Estates Park (12.0 acres), exceeds the typical size range for the Neighborhood Park category. It has been included in this category because it does not meet the standards for the higher-level Community Parks, lacking special recreation features or similar community draws.
Mini Parks
Mini Parks are typically less than four acres in size and usually have minimal improved amenities such as open lawn areas, picnic tables, benches and trees. This type of park usually serves the immediate residential neighborhood, helping to meet local park needs where a larger Neighborhood or Community Park may not be within walking distance of home. There are 31 parks in this category at present, including 6400 West Park, Barney's Creek Park, Beargrass Park, Bicentennial Park, Brigadoon Park, Camelot Park, Colonial Estates Park, County Squire Park, Cruz Corvi Park, Dorilee Park, Eagle Park, Fairway Estates Park, Fox Hollow Park, Handcart Park, Harvest Estates Park, Henderson Memorial Park, Highlands Park, Lobelia Park, Maples Park, McHeather Park, Meadow Green Farms Park, Noble Heights Park, Oaks Park East, Plum Creek Park, Ranches Park, Senior Housing Park, Sienna Vista Park, Sunset Cove Park, Sycamores Ridge Park, Sycamore Trail Park and Vista West Park.
Mini Parks are the most common park type in the City, with 53.5 acres. The average size for mini parks is 1.73 acres.
Open Space
West Jordan has a total of 285.8 acres of open space, most of which is affiliated with riparian corridors, dry washes, and utility or transportation corridors. Open space is discussed in detail in Chapter five.
Salt Lake County Owned Parks
In addition to the parks listed above, West Jordan is also home to two parks owned, operated and maintained by Salt Lake County - Cougar Lane Park and the Salt Lake County Dog Park.
Cougar Lane Park (30.1 acres) is located at the north end of the City just west of South Valley Regional Airport. The park features a playground, pavilion, restroom, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, a nature preserve and a large detention basin at the north end. The Salt Lake County Dog Park (3.8 acres) is adjacent to the West Jordan Animal Shelter just east of Ron Wood Park. The park features separate enclosed grassy areas for small and large dogs, and a larger fenced area for all dogs with crushed stone surfacing. The park includes a few small shade structures and benches.
These parks provide 33.9 acres that serve local and regional residents, but are controlled and managed by Salt Lake County. There has been discussion with the County in the past of transferring Cougar Park to West Jordan City but an agreement was never struck.
Salt Lake City Owned Parks
As mentioned above, Salt Lake City Airport Authority owns Phase II of the Youth Soccer Complex, which features sixteen soccer fields located on 75.6 acres of land. Part of the facility improvements and maintenance for these fields have been paid for by West Jordan City, which leases the land from Salt Lake City. This lease is set to expire in 2025, putting a significant number of fields that residents and the region depend upon for the bulk of their games at risk. One of the primary concerns and challenges with the renewal of the Phase II lease is that the park is located within the Runway Protection Zone of South Valley Regional Airport. According to recent assessments, the fields are located in a crash-risk zone. Since the fields experience high visitation on a regular basis, the Salt Lake City Airport Authority has indicated that the fields should be removed. West Jordan recently received a seat on the Salt Lake City Airport Authority Board, providing a local voice as final decisions are made. However, use of the sixteen fields beyond 2025 is undetermined, pending a final decision.
In a proactive effort to mitigate the potential loss of these fields, West Jordan has begun to explore alternative locations to develop City-owned fields. Unfortunately, the City does not currently own any parcels of land that are large enough for full replacement of the fields at a single location. Ron Wood Park (Phase III and IV) and a 29-acre parcel of land located west of the airport are being considered as potential sites for meeting as much of the demand as possible.
Other Recreational Facilities
Other recreational facilities that help meet community park needs include Mountain View Golf Course, River Oaks Golf Course and the Rodeo Arena at Veterans Memorial Park.
Mountain View Golf Course is a 153.3 acre, 18-hole public golf course located in southeast corner of the City that is owned and operated by Salt Lake County.
River Oaks Golf Course (162.8 acres) is an 18-hole public golf course owned and operated by Sandy City, about a third of which is located in the southeast corner of West Jordan City.
The West Jordan Rodeo Arena (8.8 acres) serves as the home of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo - the centerpiece of the West Jordan Stampede, which is part of the City's Independence Day Festival.
While these facilities play and important role in the City's recreation services, comprising a total of 324.8 acres, they do not provide traditional park functions. Furthermore, they are pay-to-play facilities. Therefore, they are not classified as contributory to meeting City park needs.
Summary of Existing Park Acreage
West Jordan currently has 967 acres of land to meet a broad spectrum of recreation needs. The various Regional Parks, Community Parks, Neighborhood Parks and Mini Parks described above are completely within the City's ownership and control, totaling 247 acres. In addition, West Jordan City programs and maintains the portion of the Utah Youth Soccer Complex that is owned by the Salt Lake Airport Authority, adding another 75.6 acres. When combined, there are a total of 322.6 acres of existing park land in West Jordan that directly contribute to meeting the City's park needs. The Other Recreational Facilities described above, in addition to private parks have not been included in this calculation since they are not controlled by the City and require participants to pay in order to play.
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