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Mayor Ralph Becker and City Councilman James Rogers paddled canoes down the Jordan River and docked at 900 South on Thursday afternoon to announce a new push for parks and recreation activities in Salt Lake City.
For the rest of this month and in June and July, the city will seek input from residents on what outdoor-recreation amenities they would like to see.
A series of open-houses have been scheduled — one in each council district — so that residents can voice preferences on outdoor activities and facilities. In addition, a website has been established at OurOutdoorsSLC.com for public comments and information regarding the initiative aimed at parks, trails and open space improvements.
The program most likely will lead to a recreation bond on the November ballot. The City Council has until Aug. 18 to determine whether such a measure should be put before Salt Lake City voters.
"Now we have an opportunity to make Salt Lake City's trails, parks and open space even better," the mayor said. "We need to get everyone involved. Public input will be the most important part of the process."
Rogers, who represents District 1 on the west side, said a voter-approved bond would enable the city to make recreation and open-space improvements throughout the city.
The push for a bond appears to be the outgrowth of the decision by the City Council and mayor to close the Glendale Golf Course and the Jordan River Par 3 in Rose Park.
Councilman Kyle LaMalfa, whose District 2 encompasses Glendale, was the deciding factor in the decision to re-purpose the Glendale links for other recreation activities. The council had determined that a bond might be the best way to underwrite that plan, but it was clear to them that residents elsewhere in the city would have to support it.
What followed was the initiative announced Thursday that promises to make upgrades citywide.
SLC recreation open houses
District 6 • May 14 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sunnyside Park main pavilion, 1735 E. Sunnyside Ave.
District 5 • May 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Liberty Park's main playground, 1000 S. 500 East.
District 2 • May 19 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the outdoor plaza at the Sorenson Unity Center, 1383 S. 900 West.
District 3 • May 20 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Lindsey Gardens Pavilion, 426 M St.
District 1 • May 21 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the outdoor plaza of the North West Recreation Center, 1255 Clark Ave.
District 7 • May 27 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Forest Dale Golf Course clubhouse, 2375 S. 900 East.
District 4 • May 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gallivan Plaza, 239 S. Main.
Also, May 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Library Square, 451 S. 200 East.