We all need great parks: 3 reasons to support parks bond

The International Peace Gardens are a celebration of diversity and culture – one of only two such parks in the United States. Photo by Bryant Heath

Salt Lakers love parks. Whether you were born here or moved to Salt Lake to enjoy world-class access to the outdoors, there’s a chance you love parks. Kids, dogs, singles, couples, groups of friends, older adults – everyone has something to gain from parks.

This November, Salt Lakers have a great opportunity to show their love for the city’s parks. An $85 million bond is on the ballot to improve existing parks and build some new ones. It would be funded via a property tax increase. Here are three reasons why I encourage my fellow Salt Lakers, and especially residents of the Westside, to vote in favor of this bond.

First, parks are not distributed equitably. As a resident of the Eastside, I have access to more acres of parks, more large, regional parks (like Liberty Park), and more trees than people living on the Westside. That is inequitable, and it must be rectified. A big chunk of money would go to the Westside, including building the new Glendale Regional Park (replacing Raging Waters), improving the Jordan River Parkway Trail, and completing the Folsom Trail.

Steenblik Park features everything from playgrounds to swings to giant bronze cats. Photo by Bryant Heath

Second, parks are not “nice to have.” They’re essential civic infrastructure. Among other benefits, they help improve our physical and mental health, cool off neighborhoods, and improve local air quality. These benefits are particularly important on the Westside, which has higher rates of chronic diseases, hotter summer temperatures, and higher levels of air pollutants than the eastern side of the valley.

Third, investing in parks provides huge economic returns. City parks help attract and retain businesses, attract jobs, help reduce crime, and increase funding for schools via property taxes. If voters will approve the bond, property tax bills would increase by about $54 per year for SLC’s median-priced home ($576,000). I understand that rapid inflation is affecting the lives of many folks on the East and Westside, but those $54 per year will likely go back into our pockets via reduced cooling bills and lower healthcare costs.

I see this year’s parks bond as a huge opportunity for Salt Lakers, and especially Westsiders. The bond can help address park inequities, build essential community spaces, and the economics make sense. I support the bond because I believe that everyone in SLC deserves great parks and green spaces.

Alessandro Rigolon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of City and Metropolitan Planning at the University of Utah, and his research focuses on park equity. He loves nature, from the small pocket park to our beautiful national parks.