Basin Recreation to preview new facility plans ahead of possible November bond

Basin Recreation will host three facility preview sessions July 8 to share updated plans for proposed indoor recreation facilities at the Silver Creek and East Canyon properties. Photo: Basin Recreation.

Residents can review updated concepts for Silver Creek and East Canyon sites during July 8 drop-in sessions

PARK CITY, Utah — Snyderville Basin residents will get a closer look next month at updated plans for two proposed indoor recreation facilities as Basin Recreation prepares for a possible bond measure on the November ballot.

Basin Recreation will launch its “Better Basin” initiative on July 8 with three drop-in facility preview sessions, during which staff will share updated renderings, programming concepts, and funding information for proposed recreation facilities at the Silver Creek and East Canyon properties.

The sessions follow public open houses held in May, where residents weighed in on the area’s recreation needs, including overcrowding at The Fieldhouse, limited year-round indoor options, and growing demand tied to new development in the Snyderville Basin.

The July 8 sessions are scheduled for:

8-10 a.m. at Matt Knoop Memorial Park, 4056 Shadow Mountain Drive

11 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Fieldhouse, 1388 Center Drive

5-7 p.m. at the Trailside Park Administrative Building, 5715 Trailside Drive

The preview will include artist renderings of both proposed facilities, concepts for potential programming, and information about a possible bond, including estimated annual household property tax contributions. Basin Recreation staff also plan to collect targeted feedback after the sessions.

“This is truly a community-driven initiative,” Basin Recreation Executive Director Rob Parrish said in a statement. “We’ve heard that residents commonly experience limited availability and overcrowding at The Fieldhouse and that our community lacks the year-round programming and activities found in comparable communities.”

Parrish said the updated plans are intended to address current needs while preparing for future growth.

“We are excited to share plans that address these needs while preparing for future growth in a way that reflects residents’ priorities and supports the active lifestyle that makes Snyderville Basin such a special place to live,” Parrish said.

As TownLift recently reported, Basin Recreation has been weighing whether to ask voters to approve a bond to fund new indoor recreation facilities. The discussion comes as the district points to rising demand at its existing facilities and to thousands of approved residential units expected to put pressure on recreation infrastructure in the Snyderville Basin.

According to Basin Recreation, more than 1,400 people responded to surveys during the May open houses. That feedback was built on a statistically valid survey conducted in 2023.

The district said residents consistently identified fitness areas, indoor pools, rock climbing, indoor turf, and courts among the amenities they most want to see in future facilities. Residents also expressed support for both the Silver Creek and East Canyon sites, citing access, proximity, and room for future growth.

Basin Recreation said the next stage of public input will focus more closely on what should be included inside the proposed buildings, since amenities are expected to play a significant role in how voters evaluate any potential bond measure.

“Given the recognized limitations of indoor recreation offerings, the 4,631 approved new residential units planned for the Snyderville Basin that will place additional demand on The Fieldhouse, and Basin Recreation’s high Moody’s rating and ability to secure a low interest rate, we believe now is the right time to present a bond measure to voters this November to fund these thoughtfully planned facilities,” Parrish said.

Basin Recreation was established in 1986 and oversees nearly 2,500 acres of open space, maintains or helps manage 185 miles of trails, and operates the 87,000-square-foot Fieldhouse, which serves about 340,000 guests annually. The district also manages parks, programs, fitness classes, and community recreation events throughout the year.

More information about the July 8 facility preview sessions can be found here.