Highland High’s expansion will reshape part of Sugar House Park. Here’s what we know.

With Highland High School’s massive renovation underway, a section of the neighboring Sugar House Park is slated for some changes as well.

Salt Lake City School District officals plan to “reclaim” about half an acre of district-owned land that’s now in use by the park, District spokesperson Yándary Chatwin said. The reclaimed land will be converted into parking spaces and new tennis courts, she said.

The buildout will affect an area on the park’s east side, north of Parley’s Creek. Much of that area is a steep hillside that inclines toward the south end of the school’s campus and is dense with mature trees.

The district plans to remove 32 of those trees, along with the horseshoe pits and volleyball court now in the area. The Hidden Grove Pavilion will remain, but will not be available to rent during construction.

Those changes won’t happen right away, Chatwin said. Construction won’t start until 2029, when the district begins the project’s second phase.

Two trees to be replanted for every one removed, district says

District officials have been working closely with The Sugar House Park Authority on a design plan that fits the school’s needs and preserves that area of the park as an inviting, public-friendly space, Chatwin said.

For instance, the original plan was to put up a massive concrete retaining wall dividing the park from the school, Chatwin said. The roughly 30-foot wall would have stretched nearly to where the park ends at 1700 East.

The Park Authority “did not love this plan,” Chatwin said, noting that the authority was worried about graffiti. “So, they explored other options.”

The group ultimately settled on a “hybrid” design, Roxy Christensen, chair of The Sugar House Park Authority, said earlier this month. Christensen presented the plans to members of the Sugar House Community Council.

Christensen explained that, because of the hill’s steep slope, the west side of that section will still need a retaining wall. However, the park will permit the school to regrade the area, allowing for a shortened wall and a more natural, gradual transition, Christensen said.

Chatwin said the district had originally planned to preserve the horseshoe pit and volleyball court, but could not because of the sod regrading.

“We, in theory, could have done it,” Chatwin said of the district’s original plan, “But we want to be good neighbors.”

The district also has agreed to plant two trees for every tree removed, Chatwin said. The new trees will be between two to five years old, and the district will be responsible for maintaining them for five years. Sugar House Park Authority will decide where the new trees will be planted, she said.

The chopped trees will be turned into mulch, she added.

The district will also pay the Park Authority $97,000 for “lost recreational opportunities” once the volleyball court and horseshoe pits are removed, Chatwin said. The park will use the funds to set up activity areas elsewhere.

The district also will pay another $15,000 to the park to compensate for lost rental revenue for the pavilion once construction begins, Chatwin said.

Further, the Highland High softball team will use the park’s baseball field, in the Backstop Multi-Use Field, to practice while the school is under construction. The district will update that field to meet Utah High School Activities Association standards, which will remain at the park permanently. The cost for those upgrades have yet to be determined, Chatwin said.

According to an April 7 update on Highland High’s construction progress, the north and east parking lots are now closed as fencing is being installed. Crews have begun moving “earth” and working on utility lines.

Construction bond approved two years ago

In November 2024, Salt Lake City voters approved the district’s proposed $730 million bond to fund much-needed upgrades for West and Highland high schools. A portion of the money is also being used for various districtwide sustainability projects.

Officials unveiled final designs for West and Highland a year later, both featuring ultramodern architecture, multi-use classroom spaces and plenty of natural light. Each project is estimated to cost around $300 million, and they’re currently projected to stay within budget, Chatwin said.

Highland is slated for completion by 2030, though West may take a bit longer with an estimated completion date between 2031 and 2033.

The district will officially “break ground” on both campuses next week, Chatwin said.