"A couple years ago, several different bond issues were passed in Salt Lake City," recounted Wilf Sommerkorn, Davis County Community & Economic Development director.
"One was to build new soccer fields. They looked at this land between the Jordan River and I-215, right up against the Davis County line," Sommerkorn said. "There is a potential site for a soccer complex.
"Almost all of that is owned by State Parks for the Jordan River Parkway," he said. There is a Jordan Off Highway Vehicle Park and Model Park on the Davis County side, currently.
"A lot of it is not being used," he said. "Salt Lake City has negotiated for the state to make some of that land available," and the Davis Council of Governments was contacted a couple of years ago about working together.
"They (COG) said it was a nice idea, but were not that interested. Since then, a couple of things have happened."
That includes the Real Salt Lake's promised money infusion and creation of the South Davis Recreation District.
"That makes it very feasible to do. They (Rec District)built the recreation center, but there are other things talked about, including building some more soccer and ball fields, probably in the western part of the county," Sommerkorn said.
"These folks (Salt Lake) talked to us again, asked if we think there is interest," he said. "It makes sense. We need more soccer fields. With all of the potential soccer tournaments, a lot of them probably would stay in (nearby) Davis County hotels and eat at our restaurants.
"Maybe we should find a way to get over to the Davis County side some of that. We're exploring the idea, talking to everybody," Sommerkorn said.
"We need to talk to South Davis Rec folks to see if they'd consider it, state parks, if they'd give up some land," he said.
"The thing we've always talked about is that we can't create new land," said Bountiful Mayor Joe Johnson, chairman of the Rec District. "Anytime we can have access to land, I think it's certainly worth our consideration."
Access and cost would be two immediate first issues to be discussed, he said, along with setting up of a board to administer it, interlocal agreements, etc.
"It's a good concept. It needs to be analyzed a bit. I haven't seen a proposal yet. It's been talked about a long time. I think it needs to move forward, has some real merit," Johnson said.
"We want to at least be part of the consideration as this complex is looked at," said County Commissioner Louenda Downs. Proximity and the "great interest Davis County has in the game of soccer" are two primary reasons for such an interest, she said.
"So many of the local soccer teams have to travel such great distances. We are excited about the opportunity of having a complex much closer, to utilize," she said. "We want to explore the option of being a part of that facility."
From a tourism/hotel standpoint, Barbara Riddle, CEO of the Davis Convention & Visitors Bureau, is also excited about the prospect. Davis County's hotels (North Salt Lake/Woods Cross) are the closest of any to the site, for example.
tbusselberg@davisclipper.com
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