SALT LAKE CITY — The city’s parks department is asking the public to weigh in on what should be done with the abandoned and dilapidated Seven Peaks water park.
The 17-acre park at 1200 West and 1700 South was closed in 2018, after the city chose not to renew Seven Peaks’ lease because of several contract breaches and nonpayment of rent.
In April 2019, Blue Island Group signed a 10-year lease on the property and anticipated spending $4 million to $5 million on improvements.
However, during a walk-through with engineering consultants, it was determined that all the pools were failing and that massive amounts of water were leaking from the pools into the Jordan River.
It was estimated that overhauling the park and the pools would cost $20 million to $25 million.
The city looked at issuing an Industrial Revenue bond to Blue Island Group, but the water park use did not fall within the qualifying standards and the funding bank would not be able to record a trust deed on the government-owned property.
In August 2019, Blue Island Group went into default and the park fell into further disrepair. The city purchased the park with funds that restrict the property for use as open space.
City staff has recommended that what remains of the park be disassembled to make way for something new with a cost projected to be between $500,000 and $600,000.
But before taking any action, the city wants to hear from residents in the form of an online survey at http://bit.ly/SLCwaterpark.
The survey is part of an effort by the city’s Parks and Public Lands to create a community-driven master plan for the future of natural lands, urban forest and city parks. To provide feedback on the master plan, log on to reimaginenatureslc.com.