ZAP likely for 5 rec centers

Aging Salt Lake County recreation centers will likely get a face lift.

Five facilities across the valley won preliminary approval Tuesday to receive Zoo, Arts and Parks taxes to upgrade everything from wiring to bringing each facility into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The county's ZAP advisory board recommended a $12 million renovation of Northwest Recreation Center and a $2 million fix of the Central City Community Center.

"There was a huge, huge need for both facilities to be re-done," said Councilman Joe Hatch, whose district includes the two centers. "Needless to say, I was really pleased with the way the list came out."

Now the County Council must sift through the recommendations before making a final decision, expected by June, on who gets what from the ZAP funds.

A brand new recreation center in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley made the first cut as well. City leaders in Herriman, Riverton and Bluffdale have asked for $15 million for the Southwest Recreation Center.

But renovations to the Capitol Theatre, in downtown Salt Lake City, could hit a snag in the council's deliberations. Councilman Michael Jensen said renovations to the theater should not be funded with ZAP dollars, even though the Legislature changed the law to allow both recreational facilities and cultural facilities to apply for the tax money.

Jensen said the only reason most west-side voters approved the ZAP tax in the first place was to build recreational facilities.

"If the Capitol Theatre needs to be renovated, then let's pony up the money, and let's renovate it," Jensen said. "But let's not use what the voters believe is recreation dollars."

The theater was one of 11 projects Mayor Peter Corroon asked the council to fund with ZAP money. Five of his projects made the list presented to the council Tuesday.

"We were pleased with the process and pleased with the fact you did look at existing facilities," Corroon told the ZAP advisory board.

Other projects that also made the cut vary from skate parks to trails. Hang-gliders will get restrooms at Flight Park, at the Point of the Mountain, with a proposed $600,000 in ZAP funds. Skateboarders in Kearns will have an $800,000 park. And hikers will have more trails with $2.6 million for the Parley's Creek Trail.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com