South Ogden City contemplates future of old elementary schools lands
South Ogden City now owns the lot where Club Heights Elementary used to stand. Pictured here Sept. 18, 2017, some playground equipment is still on the property.
South Ogden City is still trying to decide with the lot where Club Heights Elementary School used to stand. The land, pictured here Sept. 18, 2017, is empty save for some playground equipment.
SOUTH OGDEN — South Ogden City is still deciding what to do with land that used to be the site of two Weber School District elementary schools.
District spokesman Lane Findlay said they demolished Club Heights Elementary School and MarLon Hills Elementary School the winter of 2016-2017. The old, small schools originally closed as part of the district’s 2012 bond initiative where funds were approved to build Burch Creek Elementary School, among other projects.
“We built Burch Creek and combined Club Heights and MarLon Hills,” Findlay said.
RELATED: Open houses set for closing of Club Heights, MarLon Hills elementary schools
After demolition, the two plots of land were purchased by South Ogden City for a total of $762,500, said City Manager Matt Dixon.
The Club Heights lot consists of about 5 acres at 100 E. 4150 South in South Ogden and the MarLon Hills land is about 7 acres at 4400 Madison Ave. in Ogden.
Assistant City Manager Doug Gailey said the land will remain public but city officials are still deciding what to do with it.
“It’s just a question of whether it will be softball fields, pickleball courts, just open space, or something else,” he said.
After more concrete options are on the table, Gailey said they will most likely host a public event to gather feedback about the future of the lots. Final decisions will be made afterward.
Gailey said a decision should be made by the end of 2017 or beginning of 2018 so the construction bid process could start in the spring.
On Monday, Sept. 18, the Club Heights lot sat empty save for some unkempt playground equipment. Gailey said there has been talk of fencing off the area to minimize potential problems.
The grass is yellowed because there’s a possibility a sprinkler system, if installed, would just have to be ripped out again.
Dixon said Burch Creek Elementary was constructed on the old South Ogden Junior High School site so the lot is larger than usual for an elementary school. Because there’s so much land, the city and school district are working on an interlocal agreement for about 6 acres behind Burch Creek Elementary.
That means the district would retain ownership but the city would take over maintaining it and the two entities would share and schedule the park’s use.
“It’ll be a really positive opportunity to have those additional park acres added to our parks as well,” Dixon said.
Contact education reporter Anna Burleson at aburleson@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @AnnagatorB or like her on Facebook at Facebook.com/BurlesonReports.
