FARMINGTON — Work will begin this fall on the first phase of a Layton urban trail to eventually link area hotels and the Davis Conference Center with the mall, restaurants and theaters.
The first phase of the yet-to-be-named, 6-foot-wide lighted trail will cost $200,000. It consists of a somewhat circular path around a more than 2-acre Layton detention pond, west of the Hilton Home-2-Suites and east of the Best Western hotel, which is now under construction near 800 W. 1600 North.
On Tuesday the Davis County Commission approved an interlocal agreement with Layton to contribute $100,000 toward the project.
The funding, matching Layton’s $100,000, will come from the county’s tourism tax fund, Community and Economic Development Director Kent Sulser said.
“These are tourism dollars with an expected return on investment,” said Davis County Commissioner Louenda Downs.
Tourism tax revenues, which are administered by the county, are those revenues collected from a restaurant tax, hotel tax and vehicle rental tax. Also sharing in the project costs is the Davis Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Sulser said the trail will wind its way around the brow of the detention pond. The intent behind the trail work is to give Layton visitors staying at the area hotels an opportunity to walk the city, he said.
“We want more of a walking experience,” Sulser said. “People want to get out and do a little exploring and do it safely.”
Initially, Layton and county leaders had looked at developing the first phase of the multiphase trail project by linking the conference center’s north parking lot with area hotels along Woodland Park Drive. But officials changed direction as to where their starting point for the project should be.
“This one was shovel-ready and it benefits the entire community of the businesses up there,” Layton Parks and Recreation Director Dave Price said.
Price said the project brings a connectivity to the businesses in Layton, while the walkway surrounding the 2 acres of green space gives businesses a place to hold their corporate activities.
The city hopes to have the walkway in place by next spring, Price said.
After completing the walkway around the detention basin, Sulser said, he envisions the group taking the trail further west in the direction of the movie theaters in the area.
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