When Spring Lane Elementary closed in 2023, nearby communities lost a vibrant gathering place full of history and pride. Now that the Holladay City Council has approved a lease agreement with Granite School District for the school property, a plan can move forward to transform the land into a multi-use space that honors the school’s past. 

Under the 30-year lease agreement, which starts on Jan. 1, 2026, Holladay will secure 12 acres at 5315 Woodcrest Drive for a total of about $1.5 million over the course of the term. A proposed plan for the site creates a community hub with walking paths, playing fields, pickleball courts, a playground, a pavilion and more.

“It was a sad day when Spring Lane Elementary closed, but I commend our council for being willing to take a long-term vision of this,” said Holladay Mayor Rob Dahle. “This is going to be a burden to our taxpayers to improve the facility and also the ongoing maintenance for it. But an opportunity to preserve around 12 acres of open space inside our city is unique. I think our residents will benefit tremendously from preserving this space. I think it’s a great use of taxpayer dollars.”

GSD demolished the old elementary school earlier this summer but elements of the building were preserved to use in the new park concept. The school’s geometric facade could be incorporated into a new plaza area, while the iconic glulam beams will be repurposed as a pergola or bridge along the walking path. 

With nearly 4,500 residents within a 15-minute walking distance to Spring Lane, a survey was conducted to see what people want in the park. A water feature was high on the list but since the city doesn’t own the land, city leaders decided the cost was too high to invest in this type of activity.

Other resident suggestions include playground equipment for all ages, a fenced off-leash dog park, gardens and a memorial area. There was a big emphasis on connection, sustainability and innovative legacy placemaking.

“Residents really want to recognize what has come before and so the architect has tried to emphasize that in both the pavilion area and in that initial plaza space, tipping a hat to the elementary that was there,” said Holladay City Manager Gina Chamness. “We have some themes that were integral to the school that we have preserved, also some bridges that were part of the atrium area in the original elementary that we’ll integrate into our final design for the park.”

MHTN Architects presented a conceptual plan to the city council in July 2024. The Holladay Spring Lane Adaptive Re-Use Plan incorporates many elements requested by residents and serves as a guide as city leaders move forward on creating and adopting a master plan. Cost for the project is estimated at approximately $6 million. 

The Spring Lane park will double the amount of open space currently found in Holladay. Knudsen Park is 6.1 acres and Holladay City Park utilizes 6.5 acres. With 12.2 acres, the Spring Lane project will address a need for green space not currently available in that area. 

“Our next step is to figure out how to pay for it,” Chamness said. “So that’s the conversation we’ll be having over the next couple of months. Once we have that problem solved, then I think we can come up with a timeline for further design and then construction. My hope is that this could be well underway in the next 18 months.”

Holladay City and Granite School District signed a 30-year lease for the property at the former Spring Lane Elementary. City leaders can now move forward on a plan to reimagine the open space. (Holladay City/MHTN Architects)