ZAP project list approved

Many Salt Lake County groups want shiny new buildings, but how will the county pay to maintain them?

That's an issue the County Council wrestled with Tuesday. County Mayor Peter Corroon wanted the council to set aside $3.5 million in Zoo, Arts and Parks funds to fix up current facilities, while cities throughout the county had lobbied for new recreation centers.

County leaders think they've found a way to do both.

The County Council on Tuesday approved $63.6 million in recreation projects that will be funded through the Zoo, Arts and Parks funds. The money will pay for new recreation centers, baseball parks and trails, as well as face-lifts for aging buildings.

"If we are going to buy some new Cadillacs, we need to take care of the Chevrolets we have," Corroon said. While the mayor had wanted $3.5 million for maintenance and upgrades on existing fcilities, The council voted to set aside only $1.6 million of the ZAP funds to start work on a list of 40 recreation facilities and parks that Corroon said need help.

One project that the mayor proposed for upgrades, however, did not make the list for ZAP funding. Corroon had asked for a $4 million renovation of the Capitol Theatre, but the council voted that recreation funds should not be used to upgrade a theater. They said they wanted to find another option to fix up the downtown Salt Lake facility.

Councilman Jim Bradley also said the council must find another way to pay for annual upgrades on projects instead of using ZAP funds. Councilman Joe Hatch agreed, saying that when voters approved the ZAP tax, they thought they were paying for new facilities — not annual maintenance.

The council approved $15 million for a new recreation center in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley. City leaders in Herriman, Riverton and Bluffdale had pushed the council for the new project.

Salt Lake City's Northwest Recreation Center will get a $14.3 million face-lift, and the Holladay Lions Recreation Center was awarded $4.3 million for upgrades.

Other projects given ZAP funding range from skate parks to trails. Hang-gliders will get a new picnic area at Flight Park, at the Point of the Mountain, through $600,000 in ZAP funds. Skateboarders in Kearns will have a $1 million park. And hikers will have more trails with $2.4 million for the Jordan River Trail.

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