Park might become a UTA parking lot

SOUTH SALT LAKE — A corner of paradise tucked into the city's industrial west side could soon be paved over to make way for a Utah Transit Authority parking lot and repair center expansion.

Workman Park, 2350 S. 910 West, lies between acres of paving and several factories and warehouses, one of which was recently purchased by UTA for a light-rail train repair station to serve three new lines under construction.

A rainbow of overgrown wildflowers makes the small park's entrance hard to find, but the ball diamond and soccer field inside are used regularly.

"It's like this little hidden gem," said Leissa Roberts, whose 12-year-old son uses the space for baseball games. "Why they would want to do away with green space is beyond me. It's environmentally unconscionable."

Outgoing South Salt Lake Mayor Bob Gray has promised he won't let go of the park unless the city gets something better in return.

City attorney Dave Carlson, who has negotiated the potential sale with UTA, echoed the mayor's comments.

South Salt Lake will move forward with a property sale only if it can get enough money to purchase land more centrally located within the city, he said, calling the discussions preliminary.

"We're exploring all our options," he said. "There is nothing definite at this time."

Complicating matters could be plans shared among several municipalities to enhance the Jordan River with parks and green space all the way from Utah Lake to the river's end at the Great Salt Lake.

Already, the west side of the park includes signs proudly proclaiming the area as "Redwood Trailhead."

That side of the park, owned by West Valley City, isn't part of the ongoing UTA discussions. However, its picnic tables and full-grown trees would be affected by a parking lot going up across the river.

UTA spokesman Gerry Carpenter could not comment on whether the transit corporation has been in contact with property owners other than South Salt Lake. But like South Salt Lake, UTA is concerned about green space, he said.

"UTA is very focused on the environment," he said. "We're an environmental company."

E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com