Save Our Foothills presents stewardship plan; group asks council to adopt framework before more trail construction

Save Our Foothills representatives told the Salt Lake City Council they have completed a stewardship vision and a land‑use and recreation management map for the City’s foothills and urged the council to review and adopt a comparable framework before approving further recreation infrastructure.

Daniel Schelling, speaking for Save Our Foothills, said the plan provides a “much needed framework for managing equitable recreation and protecting the environmental integrity of the foothills.” The group distributed printed copies to council members and submitted a PDF to city staff. “We would like the city council to encourage public lands and the administration to take a close look at Save Our Foothills’ land use and recreation management map and to consider adopting this or a similar plan prior to making any further commitments regarding recreation infrastructure in the foothills,” Schelling said.

Hillary Jacobs, who also addressed the council on behalf of the group, said petitions and postcards show broad public support for the stewardship approach and described the vision as a starting model that could align management priorities across the city boundary.

Council members thanked the presenters and confirmed they had received the materials; no formal vote or directive to adopt the plan was taken at the formal meeting. The council indicated staff and liaisons have been meeting with the group and that the proposal will be considered in future planning discussions.