Replacement for Alta Canyon Rec Center draws division

SANDY, Utah — Four decades after its construction, a plan is underway to rebuild the Alta Canyon Rec Center in Sandy, Utah. However, it’s a plan that some residents say is not in the city’s best interest.

The city council says that the plan will bring new benefits to locals. They also say it will provide better working spaces for Parks and Recreation employees.

Opponents of the project say that it’s not needed and that the council hasn’t been transparent with their plans.

The plan for a new Alta Canyon Rec Center

The proposed plan involves a modular approach to building a new rec center. Instead of building the entire facility at once, the city council intends to split construction into multiple phases. That is intended to spread out both the construction and cost of the project.

Initial estimates from the city put the total cost at approximately $40 million. The first phase is budgeted at $11.3 million and set to begin later this year.

Cyndi Sharkley of the Sandy City Council said it’s a top priority to not add a greater tax burden to residents.

“That goal was deepened when Sandy voters generously agreed last year to increase their taxes to build a new main fire station in Sandy,” Sharkley said. “So we’re not inclined to add another capital project into the tax mix.”

But for a number of Sandy citizens, this project is a poor use of city funds. 

Arguments against the rebuild

Opponents of the Alta Canyon Rec Center cite a major lack of support among the city’s population. 

Sandy City has put out multiple surveys assessing the public’s thoughts on the rec center and a possible renovation. Reception was less than enthusiastic.

A survey conducted in 2022 found that about 47% of respondents were unwilling to pay any money toward rebuilding the Alta Canyon Rec Center. The next largest group was willing to contribute up to $30 annually, and comprised only 24% of respondents. 

Similarly, a survey from May 2024 revealed that less than a third of residents had visited Alta Canyon in the past year. When asked why they hadn’t visited, a third of respondents said they were using other facilities.

Robyn Knab is a longtime resident of Sandy. She pointed out that Salt Lake County operates the Dimple Dell Rec Center in Sandy. That, combined with businesses that have pools and other athletic facilities, means that Alta Canyon is not the only way for Sandy citizens to access those amenities. 

John Knab, Robyn’s husband, also said that the city isn’t being transparent about this project. He claims that the modular approach to building the rec center keeps residents in the dark about the total cost.

“If the majority of the citizens of this city wanted that Rec Center, I would stand aside let it happen,” Knab said. “I happen to believe that some number up close to 80% would reject it if they really understood they were about to spend 42 to 50 million over the different phases that are coming.”

Related: The hidden cost of recreation centers

According to Pat Jones, another Sandy resident, the city’s polling system isn’t giving the council a good look at what the majority of citizens want.

Prior to 2022, Sandy used the popular platform Qualtrics to conduct surveys with its citizens. Starting in 2022, the city switched to Flashvote, and response rates plummeted. Of four recent surveys conducted about Alta Canyon Rec Center, the two using Qualtrics had more than 1,500 responses each. The two surveys using Flashvote each had less than 500. 

Jones said that a change in delivery method and shorter survey times caused the massive drop in response rates. According to her, Sandy City essentially limited their surveys to only the most fervently involved residents.

John Knab also said that a new rec center would see even less use because of Sandy’s aging population.

“Our population is declining in terms of youth,” Knab said. “Youth are moving out, can’t afford to stay here in Sandy.”

An answer to major criticisms

Marci Houseman of the Sandy City Council said that their plans for the new rec center keep the aging population in mind.

“Our survey responses and our public engagement has really given us some key steps for moving forward and adjusting what we offer so that it can better meet the needs that are being expressed.” Houseman said.

Houseman said that she’s heard many of the criticisms leveled against Alta Canyon. One that has been especially prominent is a belief that the fire station would be a better use of city funds.

“Of course, we are continuing to invest in the fire department,” Houseman said. “But ignoring our Parks and Recreation employees who need appropriate working environments and only investing in our fire department employees is a bit like a parent picking a favorite child.”

One of the major purposes of the renovated rec center would be to provide better facilities for Parks and Recreation employees as part of the new center. According to Houseman, the current facilities used by Parks and Rec in Sandy have been inadequate for a long time.

“As a city, we need to step back and see all of our departments, recognize the value all of our departments bring, and make decisions accordingly.” Houseman said.