With kids now long back to school – and not wearing shorts and sunscreen every day, anymore – Taylorsville City officials are still basking in the positive feedback they’ve been receiving since June for one of their most high-profile community projects ever.

Surrounded by stately, mature trees – along with newly-planted foliage – new playground equipment at Taylorsville Park is clean, colorful and much safer than what had been there for decades. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

“I have got so many positive comments,” Councilman Curt Cochran said. “I love the improvements at both parks, and so do a lot of other people.”

“I have received nothing but positive reviews,” Councilwoman Meredith Harker added. “I drive by Summit Park twice each day and see lots of parents and kids up there having fun.”

Cochran’s Taylorsville City Council district contains the once largely dilapidated – but now face-lifted – 7-acre Taylorsville Park (4700 S. Redwood Road). Harker’s district, meantime, is home to the newly-created, 16-acre Summit Park (6200 S. 3200 West).

Between them, the two parks have received more than $10 million in improvements over the past couple of years – with another $7.5 million still to be spent in the next year or so.

Skateboarders have long wanted the dilapidated skate park at Taylorsville Park to be replaced and have now gotten their wish. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

The crowning moments marking the end of Phase I improvements came during a pair of ribbon cutting ceremonies in June. But the money spending began much earlier.

Back in early 2023, the Taylorsville City Council set the audacious goal of constructing ten new pickleball courts in three locations before the end of that year. Then, at a cost of $2.4 million, they met that goal. That’s just under a quarter-million-dollars per court – with eight of them going in at Summit Park (4) and Taylorsville Park (4). Technically, that second set of four courts is actually closer to the Taylorsville Senior Center, but they’re considered one of Taylorsville Park’s new amenities because it’s right next door.

The final two pickleball courts were constructed in 2023 at Vista Park (5000 S. 2000 West).

A brand-new basketball court – with six adjustable-height hoops – is now available to Taylorsville Park visitors. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

So, $240,000 x 4 courts means, Taylorsville Park and Summit Park each received $960,000 in improvements, before the so-called Phase I spending even began. When you add those totals in – spent last year and early this year – the “grand total” goes well above $10 million.

“Phase I park improvement spending was about $5.5 million at Taylorsville Park and $4 million at Summit Park,” Taylorsville City Engineer Ben White said. “Each park has all new playground equipment, restrooms, pavilions, sidewalks and landscaping. More spending was necessary at Taylorsville Park for a new basketball court, skateboard park and a new road, which enters the park at Redwood Road and cuts through to the pickleball courts in the southeast (next to the senior center).”

So that’s $9.5 million spent, over and above the $1.92 million paid for the eight pickleball courts two years ago. For perspective, that’s nearly four times the amount Taylorsville City spent ($3 million) developing Centennial Plaza and its large performance grandstand outside city hall.

All kinds of colorful playground amenities have been delighting children at the new Summit Park since June. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

However, city officials are quick to point out, only half of the roughly $11.4 million spent so far is Taylorsville property tax revenue. A full 50% of all the funding has come to the projects through Salt Lake County’s Tourism, Recreation, Culture and Convention  Support Program.

OK – grab your machete: Taylorsville City Administrator John Taylor is about to guide us into the deep funding “weeds.”

“The city received 50% track (TRCC) funding from Salt Lake County for the pickleball courts and all of the other improvements at both parks,” Taylor explained. “Then, on top of that, the other 50% spent developing Summit Park came through a redevelopment agency created by Taylorsville City for that particular area, several years ago.”

A mom visiting from Illinois, Alex Muscarello, looks on as her kids, Isla and Jack, test out some of Utah’s newest playground equipment at Summit Park. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

Whatchu talkin bout, Willis? 

“That area, where Summit Vista (directly west of Summit Park) is, was not generating any money for the city before the retirement community construction began,” Taylor said. “So the city created this redevelopment agency, promising tax revenues generated in that particular area would be spent in that specific area. Other taxing entities, such as the Granite School District, are also contributing to this redevelopment agency. In other words, NO Taylorsville property tax money paid by residents who live outside that particular area had any of their dollars spent improving Summit Park.”

We warned you, it’s weedy. Bottom line: Taylorsville City Council members are convinced their improvements at Summit and Taylorsville Parks have been as economical and taxpayer-conscious as they could possibly be.

Meagan Lambert lives near Summit Park and took her 4- and 2-year-old children to explore the new playground equipment several times this summer.

“My kids love it – although they wish there was more shade,” Lambert said. “But we know that will come as the trees grow. I think this is a great investment for the city.”

The Muscarellos from Buffalo Grove, Illinois also visited the park. Jack, 7, and sister Isla, 4, both said the Summit Park playground amenities compare well to their parks back home outside Chicago.

Jack Muscarello – visiting from the Chicago-area suburb of Buffalo Grove – believes the Salt Lake-area suburb of Taylorsville has something special in Summit Park. (Carl Fauver/City Journals

Finally, Mark DeMaranville grew up in Taylorsville and his mom still lives in the city. He and his wife Melissa also like to take their 4-year-old daughter to the park when they are out visiting grandma. 

“I look around and see all the new housing in this area and (Summit Park) seems like a perfect location,” DeMaranville said. “This adds such value to the community. I’m sure we’ll bring (daughter) Katelyn here many more times.”

The obvious question now is, what will Phase II improvements at the parks entail, and when will we see them? White reports designs are still being finalized and are expected by the end of the year. To this point, his office estimates another $5 million will need to be spent at Summit Park and $2.5 million at Taylorsville Park.

“Summit Park will require more Phase II funding because we’re putting in a mountain bike riding loop, a fenced dog park with things for the dogs to play on, two volleyball courts, an upgraded irrigation system, lots of additional sidewalks, benches and additional landscaping,” White said. “At Taylorsville Park, most of the big spending is already done. Mostly all that is left there is irrigation system improvements and more shrubs and landscaping.”

White says the old Taylorsville Park volleyball court – and the little bit of old playground equipment still remaining from decades ago – will also be disappearing.

New, extra-wide sidewalks are now in place at Taylorsville Park. This one runs next to a brand-new road that connects Redwood Road drivers to the south and east sides of the park. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

“The new playground equipment at both parks is much safer,” White adds. “One of the most expensive improvements we made at both playgrounds was to have the contractor install a rubberized ground surface, called ‘Poured in Place.’ As soon as kids or parents step on it, they know it’s much better than wood chips. Other playground surfaces we had as kids – sand or good old-fashioned asphalt – are no longer up to code.”

For safety reasons, White says the “old” Taylorsville Park playground equipment could be removed yet this fall. Otherwise, we should not expect to see Phase II improvements at either site until early 2026.

“The city already has the funding in hand to complete the $5 million Phase II improvements at Summit Park,” Mayor Kristie Overson concluded. “We also have a new funding application in with the Salt Lake County ‘Track’ Board, to cover half of the $2.5 million we still need to complete work at Taylorsville Park. I have received such positive feedback on the improvements. For a ‘pay-as-you-go’ city, I think we are doing very well to make all of these park upgrades so quickly.”