As new baseball park emerges in Daybreak, residents want pedestrian bridge
Oct 2, 2024, 3:00 PM
FILE: Construction continues on a baseball stadium in the Daybreak neighborhood of South Jordan on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. When finished, the ballpark will become the new home of the Salt Lake Bees. (Isaac Hale/Deseret News)
(Isaac Hale/Deseret News)
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — Construction is underway along Mountain View Corridor in South Jordan for Daybreak Field at America First Square, the new home of the Salt Lake Bees minor league baseball team. When it’s completed, the park is expected to hold 7,500 fans.
That’s less than the Bees’ old home in Salt Lake City. But it’s enough to have citizens asking for a pedestrian bridge over the Mountain View Corridor freeway.
Bennion Gardner, with Safe Streets for South Jordan, wants to see traffic reduced near the new ballpark. His motive is the safety of others, and his own safety. He was hit by a car while riding his bike on the corridor.
He thinks a pedestrian bridge will accomplish that goal.
“A bridge over to the new Bees stadium would allow people to ride their bikes to games, and also visit all the great new amenities that will be coming in there, without having to get in their car and wait in traffic,” Gardner said.
A Larry H. Miller Megaplex entertainment center and restaurants will go up along with the baseball field. The area is also expected to host retail businesses and concerts.
Accidents and deaths on Mountain View Corridor
The people behind the petition are concerned about the number of fatal accidents on Mountain View Corridor, a freeway with stop signals.
In March 2024, two separate accidents killed five people. According to previous reporting by KSL NewsRadio, Utah Department of Public Safety officials said there were 1,200 crashes along the corridor since 2019. Seven people were killed in the area of 3500 South and Mountain View Corridor in 15 months between 2023 and 2024.
A tow truck driver works to hook up a car as crews sort out and clean up after a fatal accident on Mountain View Corridor and 3500 South in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
Gardner said a pedestrian bridge in this area of Daybreak makes sense.
“A bridge just makes the most sense right now,” he said. “With the Bees stadium coming in the middle of the block between Lake Avenue and So. Jordan Parkway, that’s really like the center, the heart of Daybreak.”
The group has spoken with the Utah Department of Transportation and city council members about a bridge. But Gardner said they have not submitted a formal request.
Related reading: New Bees stadium on track to open for first home game
