Council approves surplus of 1.029-acre parcel adjacent to South Fork Park; neighbors raise horse-trailer access concerns

The Provo City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to place a 1.029-acre parcel adjacent to South Fork Park on the city’s surplus property list and to authorize the mayor to dispose of it, moving forward with a property trade that dates to a 2017 agreement with the Giles family.

Tara Riddle, the city property administrator, told the council the parcel sits within the undeveloped area of South Fork Park and was part of a 2017 land trade in which the city exchanged land for property needed for roadway improvements on South State Street. “Originally, we had entered into a 99-year lease with them with the stipulation that the property would be deeded to them upon their request. And so they’ve made that request now, so that’s why we’re doing this action,” Riddle said. The city will retain easements for pedestrian access and for authorized vehicle access to public works facilities, she said.

Councilors and parks staff described plans to encourage hikers to use a new trail in Bonneville Forest Park that the Parks Department expects to complete by the end of the summer. Parks Director Doug Robbins said staff plans to use existing bridge access and follow contours into the canyon to limit trail cutting. “It’s mostly for the trail,” Robbins said when asked whether a new large parking area was planned.

Several councilors raised concerns about parking for horse trailers and safe access to Bunnel’s Fork. Councilor Christiansen asked whether current plans would accommodate horse trailers; Robbins said the trail plan did not include expanding parking on the creek side and that parking along South Fork Road already becomes congested and can be dangerous. Riddle said the city would encourage use of the equestrian park’s parking and could mark specific spaces for trailers if needed.

Catherine Giles, who identified herself as a resident with family ties to the ranch, told the council she and her family do not believe horse trailers regularly park on the roadway in question and asked for clarification about which residents had reported such use. “Horse people, never. They would never leave stuff like that,” Giles said, while noting that hikers have left garbage in the area. The council voted 6-0 in favor of placing the parcel on the surplus list, with Councilor McKay excused.

The city said it will retain necessary easements for pedestrian and authorized vehicle access and will coordinate with parks staff on trail routing and parking signage; no conveyance or sale terms were presented at the meeting.