Park City approves easement exchange for improved pedestrian path

Kearns multi-use path concept drawing. Photo: Park City Municipal

City Council greenlights termination of 2017 easement in favor of new 12-foot wide multi-use active transportation path on Kearns Blvd.

PARK CITY, Utah — During the Oct. 10 meeting, City Council approved terminating a portion of the 2017 Yard Subdivision Pedestrian Easement in exchange for a new 15-foot-wide easement along Kearns Boulevard. The decision aims to enhance pedestrian safety and connectivity in the Bonanza Park area.

The newly acquired Kearns easement will allow for the construction of a 12-foot-wide multi-use path, slated to begin in 2025. This project, stretching from State Route 224 to Bonanza Drive, will replace the existing sidewalk with a wider, safer route for non-vehicular traffic. “This will be just a massive improvement for the community,” a City Council member remarked during the discussion. “It’s so exciting to see this finally moving forward.”

The exchange involves terminating a portion of the 2017 pedestrian easement, which is no longer needed due to overlapping improvements planned for Homestake Road. In March 2024, city officials negotiated with Mark Fischer, managing partner of 1251 Kearns LLC, to secure the easement. Fischer agreed to provide the easement in exchange for vacating the older one.

City staff highlighted the benefits of the new path, emphasizing its role in enhancing safety for pedestrians and cyclists. “The opportunity to acquire the rights to construct a continuous 12-foot-wide multi-use path along Kearns far outweighs any potential benefit of retaining the rights to the remaining portion of Easement 1,” the staff report noted.

Council members unanimously approved the agreement as part of the consent agenda.