Kimball Junction land to remain open space

PARK CITY (AP) — Summit County and Park City officials have cut a real estate deal to preserve 340 acres of open space near the Olympic Sports Park.

The Salt Lake City-based Boyer Co. was under contract to develop the Kimball Junction area land by Property Reserve Inc., a real estate arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The land makes up half of a $25 million, 680-acre deal between the governments and Boyer. The second parcel is 340 acres west of U.S. 40 in an area called Round Valley. It will also be set aside as open space.

"We tried to buy the property at Kimball Junction just a year ago, and now we're preserving significantly more open space," said County Commissioner Bob Richer. "Many citizens have expressed a desire to protect the Kimball parcel — and now we can do that and also add more open space to Round Valley."

Summit County and Park City will split the costs, each paying $12.5 million. The deal is expected to be completed by December. The money comes from open-space bonds approved by voters.

The deal is being hailed as a coup by open-space advocates.

Park City Mayor Dana Williams credits Richer and Dave Allen, former planning director for Summit County, for putting the deal together.

"This is very exciting," Williams said. "And it's a good example of the city and county working together."