Basin Recreation seeks public input as Trailside Wheels Park redesign moves forward

A skateboarder rides the existing features at Trailside Park, where Basin Recreation is gathering public input on a planned redesign of the Wheels Park into a more inclusive, all-ages, all-abilities recreation space. Photo: Basin Recreation

PARK CITY, UT —Basin Recreation is inviting community members to help shape the future of the Trailside Wheels Park, a redesign project that aims to transform the aging skatepark into a more modern, inclusive space for a wider range of users.

Rob Parish, executive director of Basin Recreation, said the goal is to create “an all wheels, all ages, all abilities” park — one designed not only for skateboarders, but also for scooter riders, children on small bikes, inline skaters, mountain bikers, and people using wheelchairs.

“What we’re looking for is to really provide an opportunity with features and terrain that not only skateboarders but scooter riders, kids on smaller bicycles, even people on mountain bikes and wheelchairs,” Parish said. “We’re really looking for this to be a universal access and just really accessible to any type of wheeled mobility device.”

The existing facility, Parish said, was adapted in 2010 from an outdoor skating rink by installing prefabricated features on a concrete slab. Now about 15 years old, those features are deteriorating and nearing the point where replacement is necessary.

Rather than simply replacing the park in kind, Basin Recreation is using the moment to rethink the site and expand who it serves.

“The current park that was there was adopted from an outdoor skating rink in 2010,” Parish said. “They’re aging, they’re degrading, and they’re in need of replacement, before we get into a situation where we’ve got safety issues.”

According to Basin Recreation, the project will replace those aging prefabricated elements with a permanent, integrated concrete facility with an expanded footprint designed for long-term safety, durability, and broader accessibility. The district says the new park is intended to serve skateboarders, scooter riders, BMX riders, and inline skaters, while reflecting a wider shift in park design away from single-use skate facilities.

At this early stage, Parish said the design remains completely open.

“100% of the design is open to public input,” he said. “We have nothing designed yet.”

That input will begin with the March 4 workshop, where residents will be asked to share how they ride, what features they value, and what would make the park successful over the long term. Basin Recreation’s website says the discussion will be led by California-based design-build firm Spohn Ranch, which was selected to lead the project.

Parish said Basin Recreation hopes to hear from as broad a cross-section of the community as possible, including young children and teens, adults, and people with mobility challenges.

“We’re looking for anybody and everybody,” he said. “The more diversity we have in user groups representing their wants and needs, the better the design and the end product will be.”

The district’s project page says three public design meetings are planned for the first phase, which begins in March. Basin Recreation says the final design will later be presented to its Administrative Control Board for approval.

Parish said construction could begin as early as June or July. While Basin Recreation had initially hoped the project would be finished by October, he said contractor timing and the district’s budget process created a slight delay. He said the park could be substantially complete and open to users sometime this fall, though the full contract extends through roughly this time next year.

The district’s website similarly says Basin Recreation hopes the project will be completed in 2026, though permitting and weather could push the timeline beyond this year.

As part of the project, Parish said the district also plans to improve parking near the site to make the area more accessible for users with mobility limitations.

Basin Recreation says most nearby amenities — including the Trailside Bike Park, upper playground, courts, and dog park — are expected to remain open during construction, though some areas may close intermittently depending on work activity. Parking may also be limited at times, with overflow available at nearby Trailside East Park. The lower playground, meanwhile, is expected to close for a separate replacement project.

For now, Parish said the most important step is simple: getting the public involved early.

The first public design workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Basin Recreation’s Trailside offices.

“This is an opportunity for us to really get to design it once,” he said. “Once it’s built, it’s there.”