Snyderville Basin presents 10-year strategic and 5-year trails plans; district flags field-house overcrowding and funding options

Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District staff presented a draft 10-year strategic plan and a 5-year trails plan to the Summit County Council, summarizing extensive public engagement and setting priorities for facilities, trails and funding.

The presentation said a statistically valid survey and other outreach showed mixed support for a bond at first but that support grew when spending priorities were explained; the district identified a "movable middle" of voters that could be persuaded by clear, project-specific proposals. The draft plan highlights a severe shortage of field space and indoor recreation space in the basin and identifies the Basin Field House as operating past capacity. "The District Field House is past capacity," the presenter said.

The plan sets out "big moves": financial strategies (grant pursuit, bonding and a newly introduced cost-recovery pyramid to guide user fees), operational moves (formalizing subdistricts and renegotiating interlocal agreements with the school district and cities), and community moves (equity, partnerships and volunteer programs). Staff described early ideas for Silver Creek Village — including phased facilities — and cautioned that a full facility could cost in the tens of millions. In staff discussion, $80 million to $100 million was cited as a rough estimate for a large new facility in the future; staff said phased, smaller improvements could be funded sooner without a bond.

District staff also previewed a two-stage e-bike survey, first to a random sample and then to an open public survey, to measure resident and user preferences and to inform alignment between Park City and Basin policies.

The council thanked district staff and asked for follow-up as the district refines priorities and funding scenarios.