6 PRIORITIES, ACQUISITION & CONSTRUCTION COSTS
As described in the preceding chapters, numerous improvements and actions are required to ensure existing and future park, recreation, trail and open space needs are met. The following is a summary of recommended projects, probable costs and implementation tasks.
SURVEY RESULTS: SPENDING PRIORITIES AND WILLINGNESS TO FUND
The statistically-valid survey asked several questions focused on spending priorities and willingness to fund construction and maintenance, and detailed responses can be viewed in Appendix A: Public Involvement. A summary of key results pertaining to priorities and funding follows.
PARK PRIORITIES
Meeting Existing Parks Needs
After conferring with the project Advisory Committee, it was determined that development priority should be focused on undeveloped park land that is currently owned by the City. As illustrated in Table 6.1, two parks (Ron Wood Park Phase III and Maple Park East Phase I) are anticipated to begin design and construction following the adoption of this plan. Both are focused on meeting a range of local, neighborhood and City-wide needs, and both have been assigned a Priority Level 1 - Immediate classification.
Phase III of Ron Wood Park will comprise approximately 23.3 acres, with improvements including several multipurpose sports fields and perimeter pathways. The City has established a budget of approximately $3 million for this phase of the park.
Phase I of Maples East Park will be two acres in size and is anticipated to include a playground, a pavilion and walking pathways. The City has established an approximate budget of $1.7 million for this phase of park development.
Once the Priority Level 1 parks have been completed, the remaining park projects listed in Table 6.1 should be completed according to identified priority levels as indicated. In addition, three new parks are proposed to help fill gaps along the City's eastern and southern boundary, totaling 13.2 acres. This Plan recommends acquiring the land for these parks as soon as possible, even if the development is deferred to a later time period.
Meeting Park Needs in 2028
When examining the projected Level of Service in 2028, the City will have a surplus of park land. As a result, acquisition of additional park land is not required through 2028. However, the City needs to develop at least 53.5 acres of park land to continue meeting the 2.85 LOS by 2028. Assuming the City develops 23.3 acres at Ron Wood Park Phase III and 2 acres at Maples East Park Phase I as currently planned, and 13.2 acres of designated park land to fill gaps, it would need to develop an additional 8.5 acres of park land by 2028 to maintain the desired LOS. (53.5 - 23.3 - 2 - 13.2 = 15). Developing Veterans Memorial Park (11.6 acres) and the detention basin at Railroad Park (7.3 acres) would meet that need with a few acres to spare.
Meeting Park Needs at Buildout
As the community approaches buildout as anticipated by 2060, West Jordan will need to acquire an additional 68 acres of park land to meet needs, assuming that the existing City-owned detention basin west of the Ascent Academies school is developed as a park.
The City will need to develop a total 137 acres to meet community needs by buildout, in addition to the 53.5 acres required by 2028. The City plans to develop West Airport Park (29.0 acres), Maples East Park Phase II (8 acres) and Ron Wood Park Phase IV (18.8 acres) in the medium to long-term. The detention basin west of Ascent Academies will provide an additional 9.3 acres of park land.
Subtracting this acreage from the total park acres required indicates that an additional 71.9 acres of park land will need to be developed by 2060 to meet needs (137 - 29.0 - 8 - 18.8 - 9.3 = 71.9).
Adopting Minimum Standards and Upgrading Existing Parks
The amenities listed in Table 6.2 below are required to meet projected future Level of Service needs and to bring existing parks up to standard. As indicated in the table, the total cost of these amenities is estimated at $6,592,000.
To ensure existing and future parks meet community needs, the minimum park standards presented in Chapter 2 should be adopted as official City policy. New parks should include the amenities and features required to meet the minimum park standards, and surrounding neighbors and other community stakeholders should be consulted during the design process to ensure all new parks meet the needs of surrounding neighborhoods and the community as a whole. A level of flexibility is assumed as implementation takes place to encourage creative design solutions that capitalize on the unique opportunities and setting of each park location.
Additional improvements or studies should be undertaken to develop a comprehensive wayfinding system and a lighting feasibility study for lighting select sports fields or courts.
While there is a possibility that the City may lose access to the soccer fields at the Youth Soccer Complex Phase II, it is recommended that the situation be re-evaluated in 2025 when the City's lease expires and more solid information is known. In the meantime, including multipurpose fields where possible in new parks will help offset potential field losses in the future.
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