4 TRAILS
Trails are a vital component in a comprehensive parks and recreation system, providing opportunities for exercise and enjoyment while connecting the community to parks, schools, open space, transit and other key destinations. Trails are also part of the "Safe Routes to School" network, which is intended to ensure children have good options for walking or biking to school.
SURVEY RESULTS: TRAILS
The statistically-valid survey asked a range of questions focused on trails and trail use. Detailed responses can be viewed in Appendix A: Public Involvement. A summary of key results pertaining to trails follows.
EXISTING TRAILS AND BIKE LANES
As shown in Table 4.1, West Jordan has more than 25 miles of existing trails. These are composed of multi-use trails and urban trails. The City also currently has over 26 miles of on-street bike lanes.
Multi-Use Trails
The City has 14.9 miles of existing multi-use trails. The primary purpose of these trails is to support recreational trail use.
Two major regional multi-use trails run north-south in the City. The Jordan River Trail meanders through the floodplain of the Jordan River for the entire length of Salt Lake County. The trail connects public and private open spaces along the river corridor, including the planned Big Bend open space improvements at the south end of the City. The Mountain View Corridor Trail is the other regional multi-use trail in the City, which currently runs from 4100 South in West Valley City to approximately 16000 South in Herriman City.
A handful of shorter multi-use trail segments are found throughout the City along canals, natural drainages and in developed parks.
Urban Trails
West Jordan has 10.5 miles of urban trails. The primary purpose of these trails is to support recreational trail use, although they often connect to and through more developed commercial areas.
Urban trails are interspersed throughout the City. One of the longest contiguous segments connects Constitution Park to Jordan Landing, the Youth Sports Complex and Sunset Cove Park. Other segments are found along the natural drainages and in parks, interspersed with sections of multi-use trails.
Bike Lanes
Bicycle commuters and more confident recreational bicyclists are served by more than 26.6 miles of existing bike lanes. These facilities are located primarily on arterial roadways that have adequate space to accommodate a dedicated bike lane.
Urban Water Trail
The Jordan River hosts non-motorized use by numerous groups and individuals. These users, along with the County and interested stakeholders, would like to see recreation on the river promoted and the safety and usability of the associated activities increased. The Salt Lake County Jordan River Trail Master Plan 2018 includes recommendations for an Urban Water Trail on the Jordan River. The master plan contains extensive information on existing hazards and opportunities for the water trail, including map and photographs. The plan also provides probable costs for hazard mitigation or removal and installation of recommended amenities. Relevant sections of the Salt Lake County Jordan River Trail Master Plan 2018 are included in Appendix B.
Trailheads
The community currently accesses the Jordan River Trail at two trailheads and two access points located within City boundaries. The first trailhead is located on the south side of 7000 South; it includes a parking lot but no restroom or other supportive facilities. The second trailhead in located at Gardner Village, which shares parking with the village. A unisex restroom is located just north of the trailhead, a short distance along the trail.
The trail access points allow people to enter or exit the Jordan River Trail but do not include parking or any other amenities. At the northern end of the City, users can access the trail on the south side of Winchester Street using a short section of trail. At the southern end of the City, additional trail access is provided near the planned Big Bend open space project, just off of 8600 South and Millrace Bend Road and on 9000 South near the River Oaks Driving Range.
Several other trailheads and trail access points are located just outside of West Jordan in Sandy, Murray and Midvale.
Trail Crossings
Trail crossings provide safe access over major obstacles and hindrances, such as railways, major roads and similar barriers. A number of pedestrian crossings have already been implemented in the City, most along the Jordan River Trail (see Map 5). These consist of underpasses that route the trail under major arterials, as well as bridges that cross the Jordan River, providing to connectivity to nearby trailheads or trail access points. There are also a handful of existing pedestrian overpasses that provide safe passage for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing major roads and highways, including Redwood Road, Bangerter Highway and Bacchus Highway.
TRAIL NEEDS ANALYSIS
More than half of the survey respondents use trails, and of those, approximately 75-percent use trails a few times a month or more. While the City has more than 27 miles of recreational trails (multi-use, urban and paved), many of the trails are non-contiguous, ending at park boundaries or dead-ending at the edge of developments. More than 40-percent of survey respondents indicated that they would use trails more if they were more complete or connected.
Participants who attended public scoping meetings echoed the desire for improved trail connectivity, especially to destinations like parks and open spaces, as well as better east-west connections, which are currently minimal. Attendees also wished to see more unpaved trails, separated use where space allows, and more improvements such as dog waste stations, trail signage, mileage markers, lighting and safety features.
West Jordan Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan
Loading...