The Jordan River Commission, and the cities of West Jordan and Sandy are pleased to announce that $1.1 million in State funding has been secured for the completion of a gap in the Jordan River Parkway trail in Sandy and West Jordan. Of the 45-mile Jordan River Parkway Trail, only 3.5 miles currently remain incomplete. Once all gaps are complete, the Jordan River Parkway Trail, combined with the Legacy Parkway Trail and the Denver/Rio Grande Trail, will provide 76 miles of uninterrupted, paved trail running from Weber County to Utah County.
This new funding will help close a segment of trail in Sandy and West Jordan, and will specifically fund the construction of a pedestrian underpass under 9000 South. The planning, design, and funding of the 9000 South trail segment has been a coordinated effort between the cities of Sandy and West Jordan, Salt Lake County, the National Park Service’s Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance (MediaRTCA) Program, and all thirteen local governments represented by the Jordan River Commission.
Sandy, West Jordan, and Salt Lake County have been working both independently and through the coordination of the RTCA to master plan, acquire property, and set aside funds to complete the trail segments on either side of 9000 South.
The Jordan River Commission, with great support from West Jordan and Sandy City, led the charge to identify funding to connect these two segments with a pedestrian underpass under 9000 South. The coalition was successful in securing the funding through local negotiations with state legislators, a demonstration of local financial commitment to complete the project, and most importantly, through the coordinated request from elected officials across the Wasatch Front to see this regional amenity completed.
Jordan River Commission Chairman, Councilman Corey Rushton said, “This is a great success story about what can be accomplished when local governments partner together on a cross-jurisdictional project. This is a project that benefits the entire Wasatch Front, and we are grateful for the contributions of all those involved in making this happen.”
Filling the entire trail gap (from 8600 South to 9400 South) is expected to cost just over $3 million. Much of this has already been secured by the local governments, and although some additional funding is still needed, the completion of the 9000 South trail gap is closer than ever before.
