Salt Lake County voters will consider a Recreation General Obligation Bond of up to $128 million on the November general election ballot, according to an October 8 statement. The measure, proposed by the Salt Lake County Council, seeks to fund 30 regional park, trail, open space, and recreation facility projects across the county.
The proposed projects are organized into three strategic categories: repairing existing parks and recreation facilities, completing planned phases of regional parks and trails, and building new regional recreation amenities to address population growth. These new amenities include new recreation centers in Midvale and West Jordan.
To ensure geographic balance and alignment with community needs, projects were proposed through an open municipal application process and prioritized by an advisory board consisting of community members, local mayors, and county leadership before receiving approval from the County Council.
The bond is designed to replace expiring debt from county recreation bonds authorized in 2016. Because those bonds will be paid off soon, the new bonds are planned to result in an estimated $0 net property tax rate increase for residents. This would maintain the current annual cost of $16.39, or $1.37 per month, for an average home valued at $658,000.
General obligation bonds are voter-approved loans repaid through property taxes to provide upfront capital for major infrastructure. Salt Lake County voters previously approved similar recreation bonds in 1996, 2006, and 2016 to fund existing regional parks and centers.
While the Zoo, Arts, and Parks (ZAP) sales tax—which was reauthorized in 2024—funds daily operations for parks and recreation, general obligation bonds are used for the capital investments required to build and renew facilities.
Voters can review the proposed project list, maps, cost estimates, and frequently asked questions at slco.to/rec-bond. Informational pamphlets are being distributed by mail to registered voter households across Salt Lake County. For voter information or to find vote center locations, residents can visit the State of Utah Voter Information Portal or the Salt Lake County Clerk Elections Division.
