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Bonds

Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation uses general obligation (GO) bonds for large capital projects, such as:

  • New parks, trails, and recreation centers
  • Renovation and improvement of existing amenities

Parks and Recreation GO bond projects require the following Salt Lake County approvals:

  • ZAP Recreational Facilities Advisory Board
  • Mayor
  • Council
  • Voters

ZAP reauthorization is needed to propose GO bond projects for recreational facilities because the sales tax collected contributes to operation costs for Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation. ZAP sales tax proceeds are not expected to pay for Parks & Recreation capital projects or associated GO bond debt service.

The ZAP Recreational Facilities Timeline details the steps that must take place, including:

  • Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation's ten-year master plan
  • ZAP Reauthorization
  • ZAP Recreational Facilities Advisory Board
  • Capital project submission to/review by Advisory Board*
  • Proposed projects and costs review/approval by County Mayor and Council
  • GO Bond approval by County Mayor and Council
  • GO Bond approval by voters

*Only government entities (cities, townships, municipalities, etc.) may submit capital project (new facilities or high-impact, long-term improvements to existing facilities) proposals.

2016 Parks and Recreation GO Bond

In November 2016, Salt Lake County residents voted to approve the Parks and Recreation GO Bond.

The 2016 Parks and Recreation Bond provided $59 million to build 11 new projects in Salt Lake County, and $31 million for maintenance and improvement funding for existing amenities/projects. Each project fills current and future recreational needs. Identified by community members in needs assessments, these needs are outlined in the Salt Lake County 2015 Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan.

Links

Resources

Tax Impact of Proposition A

Proposition A builds upon the Zoo, Arts, and Parks (ZAP) tax that was passed by 77% of voters in November 2014. ZAP provides sustainable operational funding for parks and recreation resources throughout the county. In 2006, voters approved the second iteration of ZAP, and Proposition A authorizes continued use of the funding. For a continued $18.18 per year (based on a $295,000 home), residents will receive $90 million of parks and recreation projects.

2016 Parks and Recreation Bond Projects

$59,000,000

11 Projects

 

$2,700,000

(Holladay) Playground, open lawn, pavilions, picnic tables, fishing pond, wildlife education center, amphitheater, water mill education center, entrance monument and signage, trails, trailhead with transit kiosk, water access, restroom, covered bridges, bicycle racks, parking, and restore 475 feet Big Cottonwood Creek.

$3,000,000

(West Valley City) Natural open space, trails, boardwalks, picnic areas, historical education areas, natural amphitheater, restrooms, small group pavilion, urban camping area, and canoe launch. Will be divided into eight programmatic spaces: North Natural Trail Area, Oxbow Trailhead Connection, North Parking, Group Picnic Area, Art/Cultural Garden, South Parking, South Natural Area, and Trails.

$11,200,000

(Magna Township) Multi-use sports fields, destination playground including water play, outdoor basketball court, tennis courts, paved perimeter trail, group picnic pavilions, restrooms, skate spots, open lawn areas, and neighborhood access points.

$2,421,329

(Cottonwood Heights) Replace pool mechanical systems to save on energy costs. Replace existing filtration system with more efficient and environmentally friendly system. Replace deteriorating pool structure and walls with a long-lasting PVC clad stainless steel material. Reconfigure the existing outdoor diving pool to include 500 additional square feet of water surface area. Proposed outdoor diving pool will be fully ADA accessible. Replace diving tower with a structurally sound, faux rock diving structure, including a 1 and 3-meter diving board and a 5 and 7-meter diving platform. Remodel existing outdoor locker rooms to include family and individual locker rooms.

$2,750,000

(Murray) 150-person classroom, green house, demonstration kitchen, offices, storage, and restrooms. Located on the Wheeler Historic Farm property, will be a year-round learning center, staffed and operated jointly by Salt Lake County and Utah State University Extension. Hands-on experiences will include horticulture, agriculture, livestock, watershed science, urban forestry and volunteer opportunities to encourage community involvement.

$12,000,000

(South Jordan) Phase one park development primarily on 10200 South and encompassing approximately 47 acres. To include four or five lighted multipurpose sports fields for soccer, lacrosse, rugby, field hockey, and football. Destination playground, restrooms, group picnic shelters, and walking paths.

$2,126,493

(Salt Lake County) A series of formal boat access points at strategic locations throughout Salt Lake County’s section of the Jordan River, beginning the implementation of the Jordan River Water Trail. This will work to improve the current conditions along the river for recreational boaters, legitimize the user-created access points, and create new access points that are safer and more functional for paddlers.

$1,649,450

(White City Township) A paved pedestrian and bike trail along an abandoned canal in White City beginning at 9400 South and running south to Dimple Dell Regional Park, where it will connect to the Sandy Canal Trail and other regional trails including: Dimple Dell, Jordan River and Porter Rockwell.

$19,540,455

(Draper City) A 35,910-square-foot recreation center providing a competition lap pool with spectator seating, leisure pool with water slide and play amenities, a party room, child care, two dance/multi-use rooms, fitness area, trails, open space, picnic pavilion, expanded parking, restrooms, playground, and space for a future gymnasium.

$25,000

(Salt Lake City) Two outdoor multi-use sports courts with lights and a storage facility for bikes and equipment. Each court, made of smooth, high-quality asphalt or concrete, will be between 155 ft. x 80 ft. and 120 ft. x 60 ft. with 4-foot-high solid boards.

$1,750,000

(Salt Lake City) Located along the 5th hole of Salt Lake City’s Bonneville Golf Course. Renovate existing tennis facility clubhouse building owned by Salt Lake City and operated by a private concessionaire. Clubhouse will contain locker rooms as well as meeting, retail, and office space. Clubhouse to be fully ADA accessible.

Maintenance & Improvement Projects

$31,000,000

Maintenance and improvement projects include repairing, updating, or replacing many amenities throughout Salt Lake County including:

Maintenance and improvement projects

Replace clubhouse, renovate irrigation

Maintenance and improvement projects

Pavilion, playground, restroom, open lawn area

Complete final phase of central irrigation system

Irrigation renovation, replace tennis courts, build pump track

Dredge pond

New playgrounds throughout county

Additional Maintenance & Improvement Projects Throughout Salt Lake County

 

  • Playground Equipment
  • Fencing
  • Flooring
  • Restrooms
  • Irrigation
  • Showers
  • HVAC Systems
  • Parking Lots
  • Lockers
  • ADA Accessibility
  • Electrical Work
  • Signage
  • Pavilions
  • Trailheads
  • Roofing

Salt Lake County 2015 Parks & Recreation Facilities Master Plan

2015 Master Plan

GO Bond FAQ

The mission of the Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) Program is to enhance Salt Lake County resident and visitor experiences through art, cultural, and recreational offerings. The ZAP Program is funded by a 0.01% sales tax on taxable goods and services. This is equal to 1 cent of sales tax revenue for every $10 in taxable sales.

The ZAP program was first voted on and passed by Salt Lake County residents in 1996. The first round of ZAP grants were awarded in 1997. Every 10 years, the ZAP program is placed on the ballot for County residents to vote for the program's renewal. The percentage of supporting voters continues to increase with each renewal cycle.  The successful reach and impact of the ZAP program and the organizations it funds contributes to the continued reauthorization.

The ZAP program provides operational funding to zoological, cultural, and artistic organizations through an annual competitive grant process. In 2023, more than $25 million in funds were awarded to 232 organizations across Salt Lake County. In addition to these grants, 30% of the annual ZAP Tax revenues support Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation operating costs.

ZAP reauthorization is needed to propose GO bond projects for recreational facilities because the sales tax collected contributes to operation costs for Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation. ZAP sales tax proceeds are not expected to pay for Parks & Recreation capital projects or associated GO bond debt service.  Of the annual ZAP tax revenues, 30% of them support Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation.

Additional information: zapisyou.org

A government obligation (GO) bond funds new amenities, renovations, and improves existing recreational facilities. Parks and Recreation GO Bond projects are tax-payer approved and informed by Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation's ten-year master plan.

After voter reauthorization, ZAP funding is available annually, for ten years, and includes zoological, cultural, and artistic grants, as well as Parks and Recreation operations. The vote for Parks & Recreation GO bond funding is placed on the ballot two years after ZAP reauthorization. 

 

The current timeline for ZAP and Parks and Recreation GO Bond projects is: 

  • 2024: ZAP on ballot for reauthorization
  • 2025: Call for capital improvement projects, project selection, and general obligation (GO) bond amount identified
  • 2026: Parks and Recreation GO Bond on ballot
  • 2027: Dissemination of approved capital improvement project funding

NOTE: The timeline is contingent upon ZAP reauthorization and voter approval of the Parks and Recreation GO Bond. 

To be eligible for consideration, project proposals must be submitted by a government entity. The proposed amenities must be owned, operated, and maintained by the government amenity. 

 

A call for submissions will be announced in early 2025, following the reauthorization of ZAP in 2024.

The filtering and scoring process of project applications/submissions includes: 

  • Project Qualifications (for consideration)
    • Aligns with 2025 Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan or meets a clearly demonstrated community need
    • Located in Salt Lake County
    • Publicly (government entity) owned and/or operated 
  • Criteria for Prioritization (for scoring)
    • Aligns with 2025 Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan or meets a clearly demonstrated community need
    • Contributions that assist with project cost (financial, in-kind); encouraged, not required
    • Recommended project represent geographic diversity

Proposals that include operational and environmental efficiency components may also receive preference. 

Recent examples of ZAP/Parks and Recreation GO Bond projects include the Wheeler Historic Farm Outdoor Education Center, several regional parks (Bingham Creek, Magna, Pioneer Crossing), and recreation centers (Cottonwood Heights, Draper City). Additional ZAP/Parks and Recreation GO Bond projects are detailed in the Resources section.

The ZAP Recreational Facilities Advisory Board is activated following the reauthorization of ZAP programs. The Board consists of: 

  • Five (5) community at-large members
  • Four (4) mayors
  • One (1) Salt Lake County Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee member
  • Two (2) Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members
  • Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation division director
  • Additional members may be added at the discretion of Salt Lake County Council
  • Two (2) non-voting members (Salt Lake County Community Services department director and ZAP Program director)