Valais Park Master Plan

For the proposed Valais Park master plan visit here:
http://www.midwaycityut.org/media/uploads/files/Valais%20Park%20Master%20Plan.pdf

Recreational or Natural Open Space?

by Robin M Johnson

Midway City in currently seeking input on the direction to take Valais Park in the future. The city council wants to hear from all interested members in the community. A public hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday, April 26 at 7:00 pm. The city will keep track of letters and phone calls between now and next Wednesday to make part of the public record. Check out the city's website for more information: http://www.midwaycityut.org/

As the largest of Midway City parks the Valais Park was originally envisioned as having the potential to become the crown jewel of the Parks and Recreation system as a recreational park. In the works for 17 years this property was dedicated to Midway City by the developers of The Valais in 2000. Both the city and the developer agreed in city meetings that the park would be recreational in nature and the wetlands on the property would be preserved.

Harold Remund, a former council member serving in the city over parks and recreation, worked hard to provide recreational opportunities for Midway's youth. Later Colleen Bonner served as council member over parks and recreation. Many citizens worked with the city and Midway's outdoor ice rink was born. Also a small recreation center in the basement of the city offices, which only lasted a few years until the city felt the need to expand offices into the basement. Aquiring properties for recreational city parks also occurred around the turn of the century.

Open space preservation was an important issue to Midway citizens in the 90's. At least two other city parks were dedicated to the city in like manner as Valais Park, the Hamlet Park and Alpinhof Park, according to city code at that time. The dedication of land to the city served as the open space requirement for their developments. Midway City also purchased the land for Centennial Park during this period. All of these parks were envisioned as recreational open space. Over time open space trends changed within city code by developer request for newer developments, developers now keep open space inside their PUD or subdivision to be used by residents living within its boundaries.

Amenities have been added gradually to each of the parks. To date the Valais Park amenities include a small playground with swing set, two small pavilions, restrooms, a ball diamond, a tennis, basketball, and volleyball court, a dog park, walking trails, wetlands and open space in a natural setting, and 43 parking spaces.

                     

Valais Park: Burgi Lane and Interlaken Road (240 East)

Proposed ammenities include a large play area or a splash pad, a 9 hole, 3 par golf course, a soccer feild, two more tennis courts, six pickle ball courts, bocce ball courts, horseshoe pits, two more restroom facilities, several small pavilions, one large pavilion, and 123 additional parking spaces. Wetlands are still protected in the new plan. 

Today open space remains an important issue to Midway residents. The most recent five year general plan review was posted on the city's website and included many comments from Midway citizens about open space. Not everyone sees eye to eye on what that open space should look like. 

Many residents over the past 25 years have consistently expressed the desire to keep Midway's open space rural in nature. Others complain about the smell from local livestock. Amidst all these opinions are also the realities of property rights. The group Pure Midway recently organized and is actively pursuing funding for open space conservation easements to preserve pasture lands and give land owners a viable alternative other than selling to a developer. 

Pressure is now coming down on Valais Park to change its historical purpose. The city is receiving queries to keep the Valais Park as natural open space verses recreational open space. For this reason the city is asking for as much input as possible to know what the majority of its citizens want to see happen. Now is the time to make your voice heard.