Eagle Mountain Parks, Trails and Open Space Master Plan Received With Mixed Results

Eagle Mountain is in the process of updating its Parks, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan (PTOS) to go along with its updated General Plan. Eagle Mountain has parks scattered throughout the city. You can use the Park Finder at the bottom of this article to locate a park by you.The new PTOS was on the agenda for the City Council during their Septemeber 15th City Council Meeting. After some discussion, the council voted to table the plan for a future date. Councilmember Jared Gray was not in attendance and is the City Council Liason to the Parks and Recreation Board. This document is to replace the 2009 version of the document. To accomplish this the City hired a group of consultants to look into the plan and to come up with what Eagle Mountain sees as its future for Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces. In March the City Council awarded a bid for $50,000 to MHTN Architects to do the new PTOS Master Plan. MHTN was “Established in 1923 by founding firm Ashton & Evans, MHTN began its legacy in design by contributing to Utah’s regional identity with mountain west icons such as the original Salt Lake International Airport, and the 1926 reconstruction of The Great Saltair Pavilion. It’s founder, Raymond J. Ashton, launched a tradition of impactful architecture by winning a design competition for the Student Union Building at the University of Utah.” [SOURCE] The draft plan list the following individuals from MHTN as the Planning Team

• Randy Boudrero – Principle in Charge, Landscape Architect (ASLA)
• Vince Olcott – Landscape Architect & Project Manager (ASLA)
• Ryan Wallace – Community Planner, Architect (AIA, LEED GA, APA/AICP, NCARB)
• Amanda Dillon – Community Planner
• Dan Smith – Community Planner (ASLA, CLARB)

They also held focus interviews with three residents of Eagle Mountain, Marian Burningham, Bettina Cameron, and Shon Reed all of which are currently members of the Eagle Mountain Wildlife Alliance, giving that group 100% of the focus interviews from residents. They also used the results of a survey that was open for three weeks in late April and early May.

Eagle Mountain Parks Trails and Open Space Master Plan

The 300 hundred page PTOS Plan contains the following objectives:

• Promote Healthy & Active Communities
• Encourage Stewardship and Civic Pride
• Provide Diverse Offerings, Amenities, and Opportunities
• Cultivate Resilient Approaches
• Conserve, Connect and Enhance Natural Open Space

Council Discussion

Brad Hickman, Parks and Recreation Director for Eagle Mountain, gave an overview of the plan. He wanted to emphasize that this plan was to be used for future visioning. Brad also pointed out that there were several things in the 2009 plan that have been accomplished. Mayor Westmoreland continued Brad’s summary with the old adage, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” [Benjamin Franklin] Mayor Westmoreland also made the statement, “the overall vision is something I am willing to stand behind. I hope the other council members are as well.” Brad then listed the concerns that have been expressed to him. Those mainly centered around Urbanism, Air Quality, and Bike Facilities (to focus on the recreation part of the plan, and not make this a transportation plan as well). It was also noted that the Eagle Mountain Wildlife Alliance also made comments prior to the meeting. Councilmember Burnham said she has some issues with the parts that were redlined. She felt that Bike Lanes should be included as recreation and are not just used for transportation. Councilmember Curtis responded that he feels that the city should not put in large infrastructure for the current 1% of residents that do use the current bike lanes. He also made the comment that he does not want the money to be siphoned from parks to build bike lanes. Curtis also made the comment that the terminology in the document is considered neo-urbanism. “If you google the term neo-urbanism, you will find all of this terminology.” Which he continues to say is a political philosophy that’s purpose is to subvert suburban areas to make them urban. Curtis also said that neo-urbanism (or new urbanism) is geared towards eliminating the usage of cars. Mayor Westmoreland commented that the intent of the document is “not to control people’s automobile use.” He also stated that there is no attempt to “urbanize, in fact, it is just the opposite.” Councilmember Curtis stated that the document contains climate change policies, and asked the Mayor if he read the document. Westmoreland’s response was that “there are no politics and no codewords in here.” Councilmember Clark in her comments also stated that she felt that the goal should not be to force a mode of transportation on the residents but to allow for the residents to decide their mode of transportation. She also talked about not wanting to spend money on bike only or road bike paths or trails. Clark also made the comment that if you limit the way people can access recreation facilities, you also limit it so that those who can’t access it by bike or walking, cannot access the facility. If you have the policy to encourage bike usage by not facilitating other usages, you are in essence eliminating those who because of physical limitations can’t use a bike or walk. What is your take?

City Staff Input

I was curious how the PTOS fits into future planning for the city, so I asked Steve Mumford, the Eagle Mountain Assistant City Administrator / Community Development Director, how the plan fits into future planning and how the Parks and Recreation Board were going to use this plan.

The Parks, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan is a document that helps guide the City’s decisions in relation to prioritization, funding, and planning, and preservation of various types of parks, trails, and open spaces in the city. In addition to using the document to guide city-initiated actions, the City will use this document, as it has the previous plan, to update and amend city codes related to required open space and trail improvements for real estate developers. Section 17.25.050B of the City Code states that “lots and roads shall be arranged to best protect contiguous open space areas, ridgelines, hillsides, drainages, wildlife habitat and corridors, and provide useable open space or trail access to useable open space. All developments shall connect to existing adjacent trails and wildlife corridors and continue them through the development and shall provide regional trails and corridors if included in the City’s general plan, parks and open space plan, or bike and pedestrian plan…” The plan is a guiding document, so while its recommendations don’t have to be followed to every detail, the City Council, Planning Commission, and City Staff will do their best to implement its strategies in order to achieve the plan’s vision. This plan will be used frequently by Staff during development review, park and trail planning, applying for grants and other funding opportunities, and budgeting. If an active Parks and Recreation Board exists in the city, they would likely use this plan to help recommend ideas for implementation of goals and strategies. The plan helps guide their discussions and decisions as well. In short, we’re really excited about the future of our parks, trails, and open spaces, and are looking forward to working hard to implement the plan’s recommendations and make sure Eagle Mountain residents have ample opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in their own community.

In hindsight, I should have reached out to Brad Hickman, the Directory of Parks and Recreation for this response. But I think that Mr. Mumford did a great job of answer the question I had so I did not reach out to Mr. Hickman.

Eagle Mountain Parks And Recreation Board

Eagle Mountain City has a Parks and Recreation board. According to the Utah Public Meeting Notice website, the board’s last meeting was 09/06/2018. It has now been two years since an Official Meeting has been held. As noted above, “if an active Parks and Recreation Board” existed it would use the plan to recommend ideas to the City. Ultimately the Board appointments are the responsibility of Mayor Westmoreland. The mayor appoints the board members and then they are approved by the City Council. There are vacancies currently on the Parks and Recreation Board. City Code states, “Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled by appointment by the mayor, with the consent of the city council, for the unexpired term and shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments.” Code also stipulates that the board should meet regularly. “Meetings of the board shall be held at such times and at such places as shall be determined by the rules and regulations of the board but no less than on a quarterly basis” It is almost like the board has been forgotten and erased from existence. It would be nice to see this board revived so it can accomplish what it was originally authorized to do. “The board may initiate, provide, and recommend to the mayor and city council, from time to time, plans for the acquisition, construction, maintenance, equipping, operation, programming, management, financing, and regulation of any public parks, parkways, playgrounds, play fields, and other recreational programs and facilities owned by the city which would be a benefit to residents. To facilitate these recommendations, the board shall keep an inventory of all open space and recreation facilities owned by the city.” City code has this to say about the creation of the board. “The Eagle Mountain City parks and recreation advisory board (the “board”) is hereby authorized and shall consist of seven members appointed by the mayor with the consent of the city council for terms of three years. Initial members of the board shall be appointed to stagger the initial terms of office on the board as follows: two members to a one-year term, three members to a two-year term, and two members to a three-year term of office. Notwithstanding the automatic expiring of a board member’s term of office, a board member will continue to serve in office until a successor is appointed. Board members may be appointed to successive terms on the board. Except for five members of the initial board appointed to terms of less than three years, all board members shall serve full terms unless a member of the board voluntarily resigns or is removed by the mayor and city council based on disqualification under EMMC 2.30.100 or for malfeasance or nonfeasance of duty. Board members shall hold no other elected or appointed office in the city nor be employees of the city and must be residents of Eagle Mountain City.” Eagle Mountain City on Sept 30, 2020 put this notice on their website. “Eagle Mountain City has several board and committee vacancies, including the cemetery board, military and veterans advisory board, parks & recreation advisory board, and youth council advisors. These positions are unpaid volunteer service. For details about vacancies and to apply, please visit our website: https://eaglemountaincity.com/ele…/boards-and-commissions/” Eagle Mountain has a Parks Finder map that allows you to find all of the parks in the city with the amenities that each one has. You can access the parks finder map here:

Eagle Mountain Park Finder