CENTERVILLE—A nearly one-acre parcel of hillside property near a popular Centerville trailhead is moving into city hands. The land is owned by the Utah State Rifle and Pistol Association who would like to donate it to the city, City Manager Brant Hanson told the city council on Jan. 20.

This parcel is situated in the Centerville hillside area, near the eastern edge of the city where the residential areas meet the open foothills. It is located adjacent to the Centerville City Hillside Trailhead, often associated with the Freedom Hills area or the Bonneville Shoreline Trail access points. The area is typically accessed via the eastern ends of 100 South or through the Freedom Hills Park trailhead near 2250 North Park Hills Drive.

Because the city is acquiring this land, it is designated to remain as protected open space. It serves as a buffer and a connective piece for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and other local hiking paths like the Deuel Creek or Ford Canyon trails. Protecting this area ensures that hikers and residents will have uninterrupted access to these natural resources for years to come, Hanson said.

Hanson and City Attorney Lisa Romero have been meeting with association president Larry Scandlin over the past year to work out the details of this transfer. The city is currently completing a requirement for an environmental assessment to ensure no soil contamination exists – standard operating procedure for this type of acquisition – before the deed is officially signed.

The association is just asking for the city to help cover this year’s property taxes on the parcel, and city officials have agreed to pay $100. 

“The $100 is basically to cover the recording fees and to ensure the tax liability is transferred properly,” Hanson explained to the council regarding the nominal cost. While technically a “sale” of $100 to cover the property taxes and recording fees, the land is essentially considered a donation.

While the parcel is currently just outside the city boundaries, since it lies adjacent to 160 acres owned by the city, the city may consider formally annexing it in the future, Hanson told the council.

“From what I’ve heard from people in the community, this access to our mountain side seems to be a priority and for that reason I think this is a really generous donation and also a good one from the fact that it helps us to continue to maintain that people can access the open space,” he said.