Keep the Malibu Property for Payson’s Future
Payson’s newly elected council has an opportunity to look beyond short-term fixes and make decisions that will serve the community for generations. Fiscal responsibility is important, but saving money today can become very expensive when a temporary solution fails to meet tomorrow’s needs.
Repairing the aging Taylor Pool may appear to be the least expensive option, but it is a short-term answer to a long-term problem. Payson will continue to grow, and that growth will require additional recreational facilities, public services and infrastructure.
The town already owns approximately 21 acres along Malibu Drive next to the existing municipal complex. This property should not be sold or committed to private development. It should be preserved for a carefully planned civic campus.
A new aquatic center could be the first phase. Its parking could later serve an indoor recreation center and other public facilities. A shared building could provide locker rooms, showers and restrooms for the pool, recreation center and outdoor facilities. Water, sewer, utilities, maintenance and access roads could also be planned together.
Clustering public facilities is generally more efficient than scattering them across town and duplicating parking, utilities and support services at every location. Thoughtful planning now could save Payson millions of dollars in the decades ahead.
The new council is not obligated to continue every proposal advanced by the previous council. It has both the authority and the responsibility to reconsider those plans in light of Payson’s long-term interests.
The Malibu property is a rare public asset. Once it is sold or developed for another purpose, it may never be recovered. Payson should keep it, plan it carefully and preserve it for the community’s future.
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