Residents, donors and local leaders, however, vocally opposed the lease and the loss of east-bench open space. Neighborhood associations have actively protested the proposal, and a former park curator started an online petition asking the state to take control of the park.

The Salt Lake City Council on Tuesday sided with opponents and approved a resolution calling on the Division of State Parks and Recreation Board to deny the land lease. That board was scheduled to vote on the lease Thursday evening.

The heritage park board's earlier unanimous vote to withdraw the land lease proposal drew applause at Thursday evening's state parks board meeting.

Dozens of east-bench residents, environmental activists and historians attended the state parks meeting, many criticizing the direction the year-old management is taking.

Some dirt roads at the park have been paved and in May, two rubber-tire trains will move people around.

"Early settlers did not ride around their villages on mini trains or black asphalt," said Camron Carpenter, of the East Bench Community Council. He questioned who the park's private foundation that runs the park reports to, "fiscally and actionably."

Former volunteers, such as Christine Graham, criticized the park for "alienating and dismissing those with industry knowledge." Historians and period experts are not sought out to help interpretation at the living history site, she said.

Added Kenyon Kennard, a former park curator: "The park does not need to sell its soul in order to succeed."

Eliot Brinton, chairman of the Sunnyside East Community Council, said the park needs to be thoroughly studied and reviewed regularly by the governor and legislators. The council pitched a list of ideas to help the park earn a steady revenue.

"We have felt to some degree disenfranchised from the park and we'd like to get back to the table," he said, adding, "The very fact that it's a private board is a problem."

House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, voiced similar concerns about the loss of historical value. He attended the state parks meeting with Reps. Roz McGee and Chris Johnson, both D-Salt Lake.

The state-owned, privately run park struggled financially last year. It received $2 million in one-time cash from the Legislature last February to keep the park afloat after mounting debt nearly forced it to close its doors.

Shortly after, park leadership was revamped, placing developer Ivory as chairman of the park's board. Ivory is also chairman of the Deseret Morning News Board of Directors.

This year, the park received $800,000 in annual state funding and an additional $50,000 from the county's Zoo, Arts and Parks fund.

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E-MAIL: astowell@desnews.com