‘Not all parks are accessible’: Glendale community members react to regional park plans

SALT LAKE CITY — Community members gathered to celebrate their culture in the newly renovated Glendale Park Saturday night. It sits directly next to the abandoned water slides, rundown fencing, and graffitied walls of the former Glendale Water Park.

“Before we didn’t have these blocks or nothing here, it was bare, it was not well kept,” said Juan Rejone Magana, who is known as Coach Juan in the community. “So we, of course, go to another park.”

He and another Glendale Resident, Ifa Motuliki, who’s lived in the neighborhood for 43 years, said they need access to better amenities.

“We need to build something or create something so the kids can stay focused on that instead of causing troubles,” Motuliki said.

With city leaders, they’ve drawn up a plan of what they want their community parks to look like. The vision plan includes a sledding hill, potentially a roller skating rink, and possibly another swimming pool.

Magana said having the recreational space can keep everyone, especially kids, safe.

“It’ll bring families together, children together, and that will make it easier for programs to be brought to communities and for it to stay,” he said.

A lot of changes are coming to the Glendale neighborhood. Community members are celebrating improvements made to Glendale Park. Next door, plans are ongoing for the former site of Raging Waters.

What does this neighborhood think about the plan? The cost? Story at 10 @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/tyL85z5Udl

— Shelby Lofton (@newswithShelby) September 24, 2022

It comes with a big price tag.

“I know it’s a lot of money, but there’s a lot of us too,” Magana said.

Salt Lake City voters will see an $85 million bond on the ballot this fall. A large portion of that would go toward the water park revamp. If passed, it’ll raise taxes.

“I’ve been talking to my boys and girls of voting age, and they are ready to put that vote,” Magana said.

They hope the project will be finished in time for the younger people to enjoy.

“It’s coming together very slow,” Magana said.

The first phase of the plan is set to be completed in 2024.