Riverton council reviews plans for 10‑acre Mountain Ridge park, asks for details on parking, water features and access

Riverton City Council members reviewed early concept plans for a 10‑acre park that will fulfill the city’s public‑space requirement for the Mountain Ridge development during a work‑session discussion. The park sits along the canal south of 130 Eighth and is intended to include soccer fields, playground equipment, a splash pad, pickleball courts and passive walking trails.

Council members and staff said the design remains preliminary. Edge Homes, the developer and contractor for the project, has worked with the city’s Parks and Trails Committee on layout and amenity selection but has not yet submitted the park to the planning commission for approval. City staff emphasized the session was to gather council feedback that would be incorporated into formal design documents.

Council questions centered on parking and water use. Multiple council members asked whether the proposed parking inventory would be sufficient for tournament or high‑use days; Edge Homes told the council the developer and the parks committee believe the planned parking is adequate and that on‑street parking would be allowed. Council members also asked whether the clubhouse and pool shown in renderings are part of the public park; staff clarified the clubhouse and pool are private amenities for Mountain Ridge and are not included in the 10 acres being dedicated to the city.

Several council members raised concerns about installing a splash pad in a desert environment and the operational burden of meeting public‑health testing requirements for recirculating splash‑pad systems. Staff said the Parks and Trails Committee specifically requested a splash pad on the west/southwest side of the city to serve young families, but that the city has not used recirculating systems previously because of health‑department testing and staffing needs; the committee and developer will consider those issues during final design.

Council members asked about timing and funding. Edge Homes said it will build Greenford Lane, the frontage road that provides park access, as soon as permit plans are approved and hopes to start park construction this year. The developer and staff said the project has been paying park impact fees and that a portion of the park will serve stormwater retention; those retention areas were counted in the impact‑fee calculations. Staff said impact‑fee funds collected for this development are expected to cover the city’s share of park costs according to the existing development agreement.

Council members also confirmed the park will connect to a looped trail that crosses Sentinel and links to Harriman’s parkland to the south; restrooms were shown in the plan in two locations and the design includes a clear dividing line between the public park and the private clubhouse/pool.

Council feedback directed staff and the developer to refine parking counts and to evaluate splash‑pad water systems and maintenance requirements before returning with more detailed plans for formal review. No vote or formal action was taken; the item will proceed toward planning‑commission review with council and parks‑committee input.