COSAC unanimously recommends county council fund 2‑mile Bonneville Shoreline Trail segment

The Cache County Open Space Advisory Committee on March 3 recommended that the county council fund a roughly 2‑mile extension of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail between Hyde Park and Smithfield/North Logan, following a staff presentation and discussion of funding and access.

Committee members and staff said the application enjoys multiple sources of support and funding. County staff told members the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation has “committed $570,000 for the construction of the trail,” and the application lists an estimated county contribution (listed in the application as $27,000) to cover easement costs and related county work. Committee members characterized the county contribution as modest compared with anticipated construction funding from the state and municipalities.

The trail segment was described as a missing link between existing Bonneville Shoreline Trail segments and Dry Canyon. Committee members praised the regional connectivity and publicity potential for the larger Shoreline Trail network; one member described the project as part of a plan “to connect it from about Nephi up to the Idaho border.” Designers and engineers said trailheads and necessary road crossings were included in the project budget, though final designs are not yet completed.

Members discussed property‑owner requests for seasonal closures on sections where landowners retain use rights and noted the application includes two alternate alignments. County staff and engineers recommended building both short segments where owners are agreeable so that seasonal closures on one alignment would be covered by the alternate alignment, maintaining year‑round access for users.

After questions about whether the recommendation should be phased, a committee member moved that COSAC recommend funding for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail segment to the county council. The motion was seconded and approved by unanimous voice vote. The committee’s recommendation is to forward the application and funding request to county council; staff said additional legal documents and final easement agreements would be completed before any funds were expended.

Next steps: staff will include the committee recommendation in materials to the county council and will work with property owners to finalize easements and the final project budget. The application’s dollar figures were presented as the submitted estimates; the committee and staff noted the county figure is an estimate subject to change during final agreement and appraisal work.