SOUTH OGDEN – After a year and a half of waiting, children and adults in South Ogden have a new place to play.
Mayor Russ Porter, Superintendent of the Weber School District Jeff Stephens, a host of children from Burch Creek Elementary and others gathered Thursday at Burch Creek Park, the $ 7 million park that is adjacent to the school at 4300 Madison Ave. with Pickleball took shape, officially opening courts, a water feature, two playgrounds and exercise equipment for adults. The new park should have a broad appeal.
Dameon Camp (left) and Dave Flitton will play pickleball on one of the new courses at Burch Creek Park in South Ogden on Thursday April 15, 2021.
“We want something for everyone in the community,” Porter said. He called the new park “a place to collect, a place to create a sense of community”.
He didn’t have to wait long for the park to draw a crowd. After the officials, with the assistance of a student, formally severed a ceremonial ribbon with oversized scissors, the assembled children swarmed past the dignitaries to the playground equipment.
“I think it’s 1,000 out of 10,” said Evan Jensen, a fifth grader from Burch Creek Elementary School who helped with the equipment inauguration.
On Thursday, April 15, 2021, children will try out the playground equipment at Burch Creek Park in South Ogden after a ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the opening.
Other children gave the park similar ratings. “It’s really fun. It’s great here,” said Anthony Camp.
Jai Ball, also a fifth grader, noticed the anticipation he and others felt as they watched the edge of the park next to their school build. Park development, carried out by Hogan Construction, began in late October 2019.
“We waited months to get in,” said Jai.
“It feels like years,” suggested Nefftali Diaz.
Dave Flitton tried one of the eight pickleball courts with Dameon Camp. “I live right over there,” Flitton said, pointing behind him, “and I’ve waited a year for this.”
Approximately $ 823,000 for the park came from grants generated through the county’s special sales tax (RAMP tax) for arts, recreation, and cultural initiatives. The state threw in another $ 150,000 and the city joined forces to raise much of the rest.
MarLon Hills Elementary was once located on part of the land the new park is on, south of Burch Creek Elementary. However, the school was closed after the 2015-2016 school year and then demolished, opening the space.
In a $ 762,500 deal, the City of South Ogden subsequently acquired the open land and land vacated by the demolition of the former Club Heights Elementary, which sparked the planning that led to the new park.
On Thursday, April 15, 2021, children will try out the playground equipment at Burch Creek Park in South Ogden after a ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the opening.
Given the country’s longstanding association with the Weber School District, Stephens attended Thursday’s ribbon cutting ceremony. “This whole area has been focused on children for more than 70 years,” said Stephens.
Porter expects the park to be a major draw. It has a hill popular for sledding, and a second playground should open next week after the base below is completed.
There are already rave reviews. “I love it. It was a really good idea to do this. I like the swings,” said Sophie White, an elementary school student from Burch Creek.
In the meantime, Club Heights Park is in the middle of an upgrade. Located at 4100 Palmer Drive, also in South Ogden, a new section is taking shape that was once Club Heights Elementary.
Plans that focus on the upper part of the park include the addition of playgrounds, a water feature, a climbing rock, and much more. The improvements should be made by autumn.
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