Trying to save open space

Hiking through the knee-deep brush, the options are many: Hang a left into the canyon for rock climbing; hang a right and start the trek to the Grandeur Peak; turn and sit for a sunset picnic; wander east in search of wildlife.

Perched above the mouth of Parleys Canyon and with a sweeping view of Salt Lake County, the land also offers a prime locale for trophy homes and private yards.

That alternative has motivated nearby residents, county leaders and environmental groups to start an aggressive fund-raising campaign to perpetually preserve the open space. All told, $275,000 needs to be raised, ideally this summer, to purchase the property and ensure that even a minute number of homes don't spring up on the 14 acres.

The land, which is located above the parking lot for the Bonneville Shoreline Trailhead near 3000 South and Wasatch Boulevard (3250 East), is currently owned by Trust for Public Lands, a San Francisco-based conservation agency. The group would ideally like to see it placed under the stewardship of a public entity to ensure that its value to the community is not lost, said Anita Bokde, a project manager for the trust.

"It's an important piece to incorporate into public ownership, for open space and access to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail," Bokde said. "We've always envisioned the property as a significant access point."

Originally, the land was purchased from Utah Power with the expectation that it would be protected and managed by the U.S. Forest Service. However, when they realized that the land is not contiguous with the Wasatch-Cache National Forest and could not be used by the forest service, the group needed a new organization to pay it enough for it to recoup its investment.

Although one interested party was an unnamed developer who proposed a land swap, Bokde said that the community's opposition to that proposal stopped it before any serious negotiations took place. Instead, the trust approached Salt Lake County as a possible preservation manager, as well as foundations, corporations and residents for donations, all in an effort to keep land they consider important open to the public and undeveloped.

"We're hoping to use the momentum to get the funding pulled together," she said. The group hopes to see the money raised by the end of the summer.

A primary focus of fund-raising efforts will be local residents, many who have vehemently opposed any efforts to develop the property. Ideally, those who have been active in their vocal support of the land will be equally supportive of the fund-raising efforts, said Jeff Silvestrini, vice chairman of the Mt. Olympus Community Council.