Conservationists oppose Salt Lake City soccer complex site

Both see the stretch of wetlands along the Jordan River as valuable open space.

But that's where Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and wetlands activist Jeff Salt see their visions for the swath of land at 2200 North diverge.

"There's nothing like it left along the river," says Salt, head of the Great Salt Lake Keeper. "When you're dealing with the last drop of water in a pond, that drop becomes increasingly more valuable."

Salt wants the land preserved and a nature center built for when the eagles and shorebirds return.

Becker, meanwhile, says this is a place for a multimillion-dollar sports complex.

And City Hall might hold the trump card: voter approval.

While the site was not specifically mentioned in the 2003 bond measure OK'd by voters, there was a "common understanding" on the location, Becker said.

With the $15 million bond and a $7.5 million contribution from Real Salt Lake that expires next year, the city plans to begin the first phase of a sports complex that includes soccer fields, baseball diamonds and a championship stadium.

"What I'm doing in my position as mayor is carrying out the will of the people," Becker said. "This was decided several years ago. The environmental issues are not only of great interest, but great importance to me. (But natural open space) is not the only viable and good use for this property."

Salt and other opponents, however, are not sold on the idea.

They question the need for more soccer fields, though soccer officials disagree.

"We're so far behind the curve on this stuff it's pathetic," says Bill Bosgraaf of the Utah Soccer Association. "There are very few fields available to us. We don't have adequate facilities to say, 'Come over and play in the Salt Lake Valley, and we'll put together a nice tournament' because the fields are not up to snuff."

Opponents also levy complaints about the price of the project rising well above the initial $22 million price tag while the number of planned fields has dropped.

"It's not just about wetlands preservation," advocate Ray Wheeler told the Salt Lake City Council last week. "It's about taxpayer dollar preservation."

Opponents say it would be cheaper to build the sports complex on 5600 West near California Avenue, or near 500 South and I-215.