In the case of there being simply no land to develop, as in Holladay and surrounding areas, planners have to get creative, including changing existing uses. With regard to Big Cottonwood Park in Millcreek, just west of Holladay, one idea in the master plan is to convert an existing equestrian park into more conventional park uses — something that, predictably, isn't sitting well with local horse lovers.

"With no other land available, this becomes a critical area," Crook said. "There will be yelling, there will be a little groaning and complaining, but the service coverage (general-purpose park land) will be there."

Teenagers Laura Whittaker and Hayley Waldbillig, heavy users of the equestrian area, are among those complaining. They and others have taken up a campaign to save the equestrian area, writing letters to the county and going to meetings.

"This is what we like to do, where we like to go," Waldbillig said. "It keeps us out of trouble."

Parks and recreation director Glen Lu justified the idea, saying the equestrian park there — as opposed to the South Jordan Equestrian Park, which is a large, regional facility — "really serves a very small area."

Whittaker, Waldbillig and anyone else who wants input on the final form of the plan — the first parks and recreation master plan since 1994 — will have their chance in a series of five meetings (each in a different area) county officials plan to set up for public input.

"I can't think of anything more far-reaching, with more impact on the community, than what you've got right here," Councilman Mark Crockett said. "If we don't get input now, our site planning will suffer later."

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