Nearly 300 girls could lose the only softball fields available to them north of Draper and east of I-15 if Salt Lake County voters approve a $128 million recreation bond.
The Mt. Olympus Fastpitch Softball League plays almost all of its games at Union Park in Midvale. A proposed $21 million recreation center, one of 30 projects in the bond package, would be built on two of the park's three softball fields, FOX 13 News first reported Oct. 11.
League president Jamie Walker told FOX 13 the league is now in its third fall season, growing from 120 girls to nearly 300. Players range from four years old through high school.
"It's going to affect our girls, and we might be out of a league that's in high demand right now," Walker said.
The Draper connection is direct. League coach Madelyn Corey told FOX 13 there are no county-dedicated girls softball fields north of Draper and east of I-15, aside from the Union Park diamonds. Walker said the league tried to book the Larry H. Miller Softball Complex in Millcreek when it started but was told by the county that the facility is booked every weekend outside of winter, with no other east-side complexes available.
Losing two of three fields would leave the league without enough space to schedule games for its current roster, according to the FOX 13 report.
The proposed Union Park Recreation Center would include an indoor lap pool, gymnasium, elevated walking track, fitness rooms and outdoor courts, according to the county's bond project list. The project site is on county-owned land, per Recreation Bond Advisory Board minutes from June.
The broader bond carries an estimated $0 net property tax rate increase for homeowners, according to a county press release. It would replace debt from 2016 recreation bonds that are nearly paid off, maintaining the current annual cost of $16.39 for an average home valued at $658,000. Previous county recreation bonds funded the Draper and Cottonwood Heights recreation centers.
Walker said the league hopes to open a conversation with county officials about preserving the fields alongside the new center. As of FOX 13's Oct. 11 report, Salt Lake County had not responded to the station's request for comment, and no meeting between the two sides has been scheduled.
The bond vote is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.







