Proposed Southwest Athletic Complex

Draft rendering of a multi-field athletic complex in northern Herriman

Draft spatial layout of the proposed Athletic Complex

Overview

Herriman City is considering a land trade proposal to create space to potentially create a future multi-sport athletic complex in the northern part of the city. The primary purpose of the complex is to reduce residents' financial burden to fund City operations through an anticipated increase in local sales and tourism taxes from visitors. It would also help support business growth and meet community and regional needs for playing fields and open space.

Since the City does not currently own the land for the proposed project, a property trade involving public and private properties is being considered. To ensure the land trade would be equitable, housing developments are proposed for the land the City would trade to the private developer. Community input is being sought as the City Council evaluates the proposal.

Important note: While the City’s long-term goal is to establish an athletic complex at this location, the project is not currently funded. Its future depends on 1) the land trade and 2) securing external funding from outside public agencies or private partners. Even with the land in place, construction may not proceed without these critical resources. In other words, the City cannot guarantee the athletic complex project will be constructed, even if the land trade creates the necessary space.

Potential Financial Impact

Increased sales and tourism tax revenue from athletic complex visitors could help reduce the future need for property tax increases to fund essential City services such as road maintenance, park upkeep, and snow removal. The proposed complex offers an opportunity to boost Herriman’s local businesses (current and future) and sales tax revenue by attracting visitors for a variety of tournaments, practices, and games.

Projected Financial Benefits:

Sales and tourism taxes: Visitor spending on food, lodging, and retail is expected to provide new revenue for City services and infrastructure.
Business development: The complex could attract new commercial businesses and strengthen the existing commercial base, fostering a more vibrant local economy.
Long-term sustainability: Revenue generated by the complex would help the City more effectively manage its future costs as the community grows.

Note: The project is not expected to affect current property tax rates. However, it may reduce the need for future increases. For more information on your property taxes, see the Property Tax webpage.

Meeting Community Playing Field Needs

Herriman’s youth sports leagues currently face a shortage of fields, with some teams traveling to other cities for practices and games. The athletic complex would fulfill these needs while hosting regional and national tournaments that attract visitors to the City.

Key Sports Benefits of a Complex:

Space for 16-18 multi-sport fields to meet current and future demand.
Serve as a host location more than a dozen tournaments annually for various sports.
Improved recreational opportunities for residents of all ages.

Why Is a Land Trade Needed?

Herriman City does not currently own the contiguous 56-acre property required for the athletic complex. To make the project feasible, the City is working with private developers to execute land trades. These trades will enable the City to secure the necessary property to qualify for possible outside funding sources, as the City does not have the financial resources to build the complex without external support.

Land Trade Proposal

The proposed land trade involves reconfiguring land uses between the City and private developers. In exchange for property that can be developed into residential housing, the City would acquire the land needed for the complex (which is currently privately owned and slated for residential homes).

Proposed Land Trades (as of January 2025):

“Creek Ridge” property (29 acres): Directly across the future extension of 6400 West from the athletic complex site. Shift from a planned regional park or sporting complex to residential use with up to 136 single-family homes. Swapping land uses with the athletic complex site.

Draft subdivision layout for the Creek Ridge property in northern Herriman

“Big Bend Cove” property (2.54 acres): Transition from public property to 11 single-family residential lots, which is consistent with current zoning. Previously identified as a potential fire station location, which has been permanently relocated to the southwestern side of the “Sorrento” property (the fire station relocation is independent of the athletic complex).

Draft Big Bend Cove rendering of 11 single-family homes in a 2.5-acre subdivision.

“Sorrento” property (previously known as the “Walker” property) (18 acres): Transition to a maximum of 113 single-family detached residential homes. This property was previously expected to house a public works facility, which will be located elsewhere.

Note: a previous proposal was for 212 residential units—a mix of single-family and townhomes—when community meetings occurred in January 2025.

Draft rendering of a proposal for a maximum of 113 single-family and townhome housing.

Teton Ranch and Olympia Adjustments

Additional changes to private properties are part of the overall proposal:

Teton Ranch: Approved to reduce lot sizes for a portion of the subdivision to allow 17 additional homes—a change from 1.72 homes per acre to 1.84. This change is finalized, and the adjusted lot sizes remain within the range of existing homes in the area.
Olympia: Increase the development entitlement by 150 units, resulting in a future maximum total of 6,480 residential units in the 930-acre development.

Impacts of the Proposal

This proposal impacts several areas with a change from one land use to another. The City Council is receiving feedback from the community through email, phone calls, in-person meetings, and community meetings. The Council is weighing and considering public sentiment during the negotiation process.

Public Engagement and Timeline

The City values transparency and community input:

Community Meetings: Held in January with property owners near affected areas to gather input.
Resident Feedback: Online and in-person feedback is welcomed for consideration by the City Council. Find the City Council’s contact information on this webpage.
Timeline: Negotiations have been ongoing throughout the winter. The initial proposals have been revised—in part to respond to public feedback—and the Planning Commission will hear a series of items during its April 2 meeting. Following the Planning Commission review, the City Council will consider the proposal in public meetings. No final decision has been made, and because the project is unfunded, there is no established timeline for construction or groundbreaking of the potential complex.

The Data

To aid Herriman City in exploring the idea of an athletic complex, a feasibility study and market survey was conducted in 2022-2023. A summary presentation was given in the August 23, 2023 City Council work meeting. The full study and survey results are also available below.

Note: The feasibility study and market survey were originally based on a nearby site just west of the current proposed location. While the new location is similar, some conditions may differ and will be further evaluated if the project moves forward.

Feasibility Study & Market Survey Summary (PDF)

Full Feasibility Study & Market Survey (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would the land trade proposal be needed? The City does not own the necessary land or have the funding to construct the complex without outside funding sources. The land trade is key to securing the property and to qualify for potential outside funding.
How will traffic impacts be addressed? The City regularly monitors traffic levels on major roads to ensure they can handle current and future use. When traffic reaches certain levels, the City plans and builds road improvements as needed to keep traffic moving efficiently. These projects are already included in long-term plans and will be completed in the future.
Will this reduce my property taxes? A future complex is not expected to be a cause to lower or raise current property taxes. However, sales and tourism taxes may help reduce the future need to raise property taxes for City maintenance and operations.
How will parking needs be managed? Parking is a key consideration in the planning process. If the project moves forward, the City will carefully study parking needs and look at best practices from similar athletic complexes across the country. The goal is to provide enough parking to accommodate visitors while keeping traffic flow efficient and minimizing overflow into surrounding areas.
What are the benefits for businesses? A potential complex would be expected to attract new commercial ventures, such as hotels, restaurants, and retail stores, while boosting visitor numbers for existing businesses.
Does this affect the future Jackson Park? No, the future Jackson Park, to the north of the athletic complex site, is unaffected by the proposal. It is still planned and expected to be funded within the next 3-5 years.
What was planned for the traded properties before?

“Big Bend Cove” property: Previously discussed as a fire station site.
“Sorrento” property (formerly known as “Walker Cove”): Previously discussed as a public works facility site.
“Creek Ridge” property: Planned as a regional park or sporting complex.