City officials are patting themselves on the back for their efforts in the war to preserve open space in this growing town.
The city is spending $14 million on 80 acres of open space that includes the 69-acre Adventure and Learning Park and 11 acres of what is considered developable land. The sale becomes official Nov. 1.Although the park at 4800 W. 10400 South has fallen into disrepair, it's still used by joggers, kids at play, dog owners leading their charges, and couples walking hand-in-hand.
And Mayor Jess Adamson said a little maintenance will return the park to full usability with paved jogging paths, picnic tables and a play-ground.
"It's really a jewel," he said on a walk through the park earlier this week.
Adamson's own philosophy is to retain the reason people move to High-land.
"We don't want a subdivision named Deer Field with no deer or another named Pheasant Hollow with no pheasants or even hollows," he said. "We don't want a subdivision that should be called Density."
The mayor said city officials decided to spend the hefty sum because the city will soon run out of developable land and the neglected park would have been the first target for developers.
"We know we're going to grow," Adamson said. "In other cities, everybody is coming in, buildings are being scrunched together. We don't want that in Highland."
The 11 acres could be incorporated into the park or sold off to developers to pay for the park, Adamson said.
A wooden fort built by Brigham Young University students 20 years ago for the Utah State Training School will be repaired, picnic benches and tables painted, and the man-made pond lined with clay.
The state built the park as part of the Utah State Developmental School but decided not to continue operating it a few years ago. Then Utah County took control of the park, but it also lost interest.
Highland leased the property for two years while negotiating with the state to buy it. The money to buy the park has been accruing in the city's parks fund. The park should be paid off with the funds and park impact fees from new development over the next nine years.
Highland is also considering an ordinance that would require some churches, schools and businesses to have 35 percent landscaping. A public hearing is set on that issue for 8:30 p.m., Nov. 3.