North Salt Lake leaders emphasized that their fight has not been against open space. City attorney Mike Nielsen said that in his three years on the job, the city has bought about 115 acres to be preserved as open space, as well as more than 400 acres west of the planned Legacy Parkway that will be preserved.

"I wish Bountiful (where Nielsen lives) purchased as many acres for its citizens as this city has," he said.

Calling the deal "a resolution we can all be proud of," Jergensen said, "There have been a lot of angry words between North Salt Lake and Salt Lake City on this." He said agreement can be reached "when people of good will come together."

The disagreement set off a war of words between Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and North Salt Lake's then-Mayor Kay Briggs, who accused Anderson of "robbery and hypocrisy."

Salt Lake City Councilwoman Jill Remington Love said, "I put my heart and soul into (preserving the open space.) I can't think of another issue I cared more about than saving this land."

Salt Lake City is now negotiating with Staker Parson Companies, which owns a piece of untouched land that, as a result of the settlement, would become an island amid land owned by Salt Lake City and the U.S. Forest Service. Attorneys for the city would not reveal any details of that negotiation.

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