Spanish Fork: A large commercial center now occupies the site of a former landfill in this Utah County city. In 2003, the Spanish Fork City Council approved plans for the Expressway Business Park, located at 1100 E. Expressway Lane — just a few blocks from U.S. 6 near 800 North.

The area used to be the site of the Spanish Fork Ranch Subdivision, but the Utah County Health Department condemned the site in 2001 after methane gas and garbage surfaced from the capped landfill, creating heath hazards for residents.

So far, the business park has turned out well for the community, said Seth Perrins, assistant city manager.

"People obviously think there's a stigma building on top of a landfill," Perrins said. "But they haven't had any problems."

Syracuse: The former landfill in this Davis County city was capped 50 years ago, said G.J. LaBonty, Syracuse's community development director. In the late 1970s, the landfill was turned into an equestrian park, which is still in use. In the late 1990s, the city built its public works building on part of the equestrian park.

Roy: Two soccer fields at Emma Russell Park on the west side of this Weber County city sit on top of a mound that used to be a landfill. A paved walking track circuits the fields.

Centerville: Over the past few years, a former landfill in this Davis County city was returned to Mother Nature. The Utah Department of Transportation removed more than 3,000 truckloads of trash and debris from 109 acres of land, which is now part of the 2,225-acre Legacy Nature Preserve.

Salt Lake City: An old garbage dump was found on Salt Lake City International Airport property in 1992 during construction of a runway. The trash was hauled away to allow runway construction.

Taylorsville: Vista Park at 5000 South and 2100 West was built on a former landfill.

South Jordan: Between 1953 and 1971, an 8-acre section of Daybreak near 11800 South and 5100 West was used for illegal, unauthorized dumping, said Kennecott/Rio Tinto spokeswoman Jana Kettering. The trash was voluntarily removed before the development was built. The land since has been authorized to meet residential safety standards and now houses part of a condominium complex and a private school.

Contributing: Joseph M. Dougherty, Jens Dana, Tad Walch, Lynn Arave and Rebecca Palmer. E-mail: jpage@desnews.com