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Summit County pledges $5.75 million toward Bonanza Flats purchase

County Council agrees to the payment in a closed session

Earlier this week, Summit County Council members agreed to contribute $5.75 million toward the purchase of the Bonanza Flats acreage.

During a closed session meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, County Council members approved the decision to help finance the purchase of the long-sought acreage, which is seen as a crucial piece of open space land located in Wasatch County, downhill from Guardsman Pass.

“We can talk about this for a long time or we can say there is a need that we can fill right now,” said Chris Robinson, County Council member. “This is a good project and it will promote open space and accomplish other goals at the same time.

“What we are agreeing to is not all the way or even halfway there, but it is a good dent in bridging the $13 million gap,” he added.

In January, City Hall reached a $38 million deal with the property’s landowner to acquire the land as part of the city’s open space program. Park City voters had previously approved a $25 million bond prior to the deal.

Robinson said a “very general framework” has been established regarding the contribution. He said the funds will likely come from the county’s open space budget, as well as others.

“We have a way that we believe will work,” Robinson said, adding that the donation will not affect the county’s services or programs.

Robinson said the details about where the funds will come from and any required agreements with Park City will be decided within the next two weeks. He said the city is required to make a payment toward the purchase option on March 15.

“We are still working on all of that, we just don’t have everything fleshed out,” Robinson said. “It will probably be a combination of some grants and some land exchanges, among others.

“Utah Open Lands and Park City Municipal are making good progress with fundraising and we wanted to get out and say, ‘We are in,’” he said.

Summit County


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