NORTH SALT LAKE—The idea for a Wetlands Park in the Foxboro neighborhood of North Salt Lake was included in the 2013 General Plan. Now more than 10 years later, the park is a reality and officially opened with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, Sept. 11.

Foxboro Elementary fifth graders were included in the celebration as they rotated from station to station learning about birds and migration, storm water and the construction of the boardwalk/park.

“When the Foxboro development went in, this 22 and a half acre Wetlands Park was created,” said Mayor Brian Horrocks. “It was envisioned as a place where the residents could walk and view wildlife and just a large, passive open space in an urban setting.”

Over 10 years ago, the city planned for these improvements that are here today, he said. “So none of these kids (fifth graders) were born when we started the process of getting federal permits. Further work will happen in the spring as we plant more trees and plants and introduce water into the wetlands.”

“Since 2013 it’s gone through several designs,” said City Manager Ken Leetham. “This design was the longest one.” 

Permitting took the most time, he said. “There are thousands of regulations you have to go through. It’s a complicated process of rules and regulations. It takes a long time.”

The city got approval at the end of 2024, said Leetham. “Then we put the project out to bid.”

Some of the Foxboro neighborhood was built on wetlands, he said. “This serves as mitigation from the destruction caused by the neighborhood. This has the potential to be a better park than what was left.”

The area is in three segments, Leetham said. “It’s to Legacy on the west and Cutler Drive on the east. A perimeter trail crosses every parcel. The boardwalk is just over a mile and a half long.”

It’s a location where people can stop and get out of the way, he said. “Foxboro is a walkable community. It connects to neighborhood pathways as much as possible.”

Leetham said the city will be removing invasive species. “We’ll take out some Russian Olive trees and other plants. We’ll start planting over the next five years and improve the habitat for wildlife. It really is a wonderful idea.”

 “It’s been a good day,” said fifth grader Alex Shumway-Markus. “It was really fun to see the insects and do the exercise (station). Now I don’t have to walk so long from school I can cut through on the boardwalk.”

“Our highest hope for this is that it becomes a great place where our residents can use it for years as we improve it and as we just make it something that will be part of the community for a long time,” said Horrocks. “It’s a unique amenity in the city. We have nothing else like this. So as we continue to improve it and invest in it I’m sure you’ll all be thrilled with it.”

The city also presented the school with copies of the book “Witness Trees,” one for each class and two for the library. 

“I wanted to let you know what this book is about,” said Councilmember Alisa Van Langeveld. “The book tells a really sweet story about how we put effort and energy into projects and plans and sometimes planting trees that we don’t get to see at their full height and their full growth and their full glory but we still do that work anyway and then those trees stand as a legacy beyond when we are there to witness what comes next.”

A project like this in the city started well before many of you were born, she said. “We’re opening it today and it will be here for years and years and years to come.”

It will be witness to this neighborhood and people who want to walk their dogs and walk their strollers and walk to school, said Van Langeveld. “It provides a place for wildlife and nature and the community and the life that gets lived here.”