New Mountain Bike Trails Planned
SALT LAKE CITY – On March 3 the Salt Lake City Council formally adopted its first Foothills Trail System Master Plan.
The primary objectives of the now-approved plan are to: (1) Provide detailed layout, design and management recommendations for a comprehensive non-motorized foothill recreational trail system that is safe, enjoyable, accessible, connected, and sustainable; and (2) Provide information to guide strategic implementation of the trail system over a 10-year time horizon. This plan covers the area between Salt Lake City’s northern boundary and Emigration Canyon. A future update to the plan will address the area between Emigration and Parleys Canyons.
“Our system of trails is one of the things residents and visitors alike find incredible about Salt Lake City. Our foothills trail system is so close to our downtown core, making it accessible for many people, and this master plan will help to ensure its current use while also looking ahead and planning for future needs,” said Mayor Erin Mendenhall.
Under the direction of the Mayor’s administration, the City’s Trails and Natural Lands Division created the plan after a public input process that began in the summer of 2016 and continued through 2018. Feedback gathered from thousands of residents and stakeholders during that time helped guide plan development and will influence trail development projects, including trail alignments and the timing of individual improvements.
Key partners that were involved in the creation of this plan include Trails Utah, the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee, the University of Utah, Salt Lake Valley Trails Society, Salt Lake City Watershed Division, and many others. Alta Planning & Design was the lead consultant for the project.
“We are proud of the effort and engagement that went into this planning process,” said Trails and Natural Lands Director Lewis Kogan. “Our city is growing and trail use is only going to increase. We’re excited to finally have a roadmap to creating a really high-quality trail system that can accommodate the demand, provide really fun opportunities for trail users, and also help protect the sensitive foothills ecosystem.”
Approximately 15 miles of trail improvements identified in this Master Plan recently went out for bid, with construction expected to occur in 2020. These include new hiking and biking trails in the Avenues including a route up the ‘Avenues Twin Peaks,’ a new mountain bike trail descending into City Creek, a hiking trail above Memory Grove, and new hiking and biking trails near Popperton Park.
A full version of the September 2019 final draft plan is available at: www.slc.gov/parks/TrailsPlan-2
