Backstop Multi-use Field Replacement with New Shared-use Softball Field

Sugar House Park's Backstop Multi-use Field was originally an active baseball field in the early 2000s that shifted to an athletic field for soccer, kickball, and lacrosse leagues, with a backstop because it did not get the maintenance required for the field to be satisfactory for competitive team play. Currently, the space is used as a turf field for recreational leagues in soccer, kickball, and lacrosse. The School District approached the Park Authority to build a new baseball and softball field in Sugar House Park for use by Highland High School for one to two seasons during the school's phased construction project. Fortunately, the School District was able to secure a different location for the baseball team, and the Sugar House Park Authority and the School District reached an agreement on a shared-use softball field.

Existing Backstop Fence Damage

Existing field homeplate

Existing Field Dugout

Existing Backstop Fence

Existing Backstop Fence view from Parley's Trail

FUTURE SHARED-USE FACILITY

The School District agrees to the facility being used for shared use. Highland High School will provide the Park Authority with a schedule for first-priority field reservations for the February through May season and summer practices. All unreserved times will be open for public reservations through the Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation website.

TIMELINE

The School District will begin construction of the field in June 2026 and will finish by the end of 2026, with the field ready for use for the Spring 2027 season. The Salt Lake City School District will begin work on the shared property line in May 2026. Per the MOU, the School District will post signs in the project area 15 days prior to any construction activity. The School District will prepare and care for the field during their reservation season, with the Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Ballfield team maintaining the field as part of their portfolio of facilities for public reservations. The softball field in Sugar House Park will be a great addition ot the options available on the east side of Salt Lake County.

PROJECT SCOPE OF WORK

The School District will cover costs to remove the existing infrastructure and replace it with a new softball field, including fencing, dugouts, shade structures, and infield. The new field will be located at the same site and in the same orientation as the existing baseball field. The adjacent Mount Olympus pavilion will not be open for reservations for the summer 2026 season to eliminate the impact of construction activities—including parking, noise, and dust—on users. The pavilion is still available for first-come, first-served users. All park patrons must obey posted signage and be cautious when near construction zones.

The new shared-use Softball Field will be located at the existing site and will retain the baseball field's orientation.

IMPACT ON SUGAR HOUSE PARK

The new softball field will impact the park with construction activity, including construction vehicles and fencing near the construction site, as well as noise, dust, and other disturbances to the park experience. Detailed design documents for the field will be updated here as they are received and approved.