Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs are two of the fastest-growing cities in Utah — and together, they are among the only communities their combined size in the state without a recreation center between them.
Eagle Mountain's population is now estimated at nearly 77,000 residents as of January 2026, growing at 6.4% annually according to city data reported by the Cedar Valley Sentinel. Saratoga Springs has surpassed 40,000 and continues to grow rapidly. The combined population of these two neighboring cities is over 115,000 people — and the closest full-scale indoor recreation center to either of them is in Lehi.
The median age in Eagle Mountain is just 23 years. The median household income is $113,648. A local resident has submitted a proposal for a multigenerational wellness hub and is currently collecting community input.
The Proposal: A Multigenerational Wellness Hub
A community member has submitted a proposal for a World-Class Wellness Hub designed to serve residents of both Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs. The proposal describes the facility as a permanent community landmark serving residents of all ages. The proposed components include:
- A high-end adult sanctuary with saunas, cold plunge, and recovery amenities
- A dedicated space for teens
- An exploratory and educational space for children
- Pools and courts
- Funded with $0 new taxes for residents
The proposal's organizer is collecting community input via an anonymous survey before presenting the concept to city leadership. The goal is 1,000 responses to demonstrate the scale of community interest. As of early 2026, over 130 responses had been collected in the first few days.
The survey takes 30 seconds and is 100% anonymous unless you choose to add your email to stay updated on the proposal's progress.
🗳️ View the Survey Here
Why Neither City Currently Has a Rec Center
Eagle Mountain residents have raised this question repeatedly over the years. From the Eagle Mountain City Rumor Stop page, the city has stated: "One of the most frequent requests that comes to the city is for a recreation center. Recreation centers are very costly facilities and in general are not fiscally self-sufficient. However, Eagle Mountain City staff are working to identify funding strategies that will allow us to build a quality recreation center of sufficient size with desired amenities for a rapidly growing city while trying to avoid incurring significant debt."
Saratoga Springs residents have faced the same situation. In November 2022, Saratoga Springs put a $70 million General Obligation Bond to voters for a full recreation center and aquatics center. Voters rejected it. The bond would have been secured by a property tax levy. Both cities have directed resources toward roads, infrastructure, and essential services as their populations have grown rapidly.
Where Residents Currently Access Recreation Facilities
The Legacy Center in Lehi is currently the closest recreation center to Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs residents, according to the Daily Herald. The facility offers a fitness area, indoor track, gymnasiums, aquatics, and multipurpose spaces.
Lehi Free Press has reported that approximately 25% of Legacy Center members are non-Lehi residents. Lehi taxpayers subsidize the Legacy Center to the tune of nearly $2 million per year. The Lehi Free Press has editorialized that this dynamic raises questions about whether non-resident membership rates adequately offset the taxpayer subsidy Lehi residents provide.
American Fork Recreation is another facility area residents access, also requiring travel outside both cities.
Eagle Mountain's RAP Tax: What It Does and Doesn't Cover
Eagle Mountain voters approved the Recreation, Arts, and Parks Tax in November 2025. The RAP Tax passed with 4,992 votes in favor and 3,722 against. The RAP Tax is a 0.1% local sales tax — one cent for every $10 spent in Eagle Mountain — dedicated exclusively to parks, trails, arts programming, and recreational facilities. In its first year, the RAP Tax is expected to generate around $600,000, with up to $6 million over the next 10 years.
City Manager Benjamin Reeves told the Daily Herald that RAP Tax dollars cannot be used to build a full-scale recreation center: "A rec center may be something the public and council consider in the future, but it's not something we're pursuing now." Building a recreation center would require a separate, larger funding mechanism. Both Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs now have dedicated recreational funding streams in place through their respective RAP taxes.
Learn more about how the RAP Tax works at eaglemountain.gov.
How Recreation Facilities Have Been Funded in Other Utah Communities
The following funding mechanisms have been used by other Utah cities to build or expand recreation facilities, in many cases without direct property tax increases.
1. Sales Tax Revenue Bonds
Bonds repaid through future sales tax revenue rather than property taxes. Lehi recently used this model for the $60 million Thanksgiving Point STEM Center — the city issued $32 million in sales tax revenue bonds, repaid by Thanksgiving Point through a lease agreement over 20 years. According to KSL, at the end of the term the city owns a $60 million asset. This model does not involve a property tax increase.
2. RAP/PARC Tax Revenue
Dedicated sales tax revenue, as described above. Eagle Mountain's RAP Tax generates around $600,000 per year and up to $6 million over 10 years. It can fund phased components such as an aquatic facility, fitness wing, or outdoor amenities, and establishes a stable revenue stream that can support additional financing. Learn more about how the RAP Tax works.
3. Developer Impact Fees
Under Utah Code Title 11, Chapter 36a, cities may charge developers one-time impact fees on new construction to fund public facilities with a life expectancy of more than 10 years. Eagle Mountain already collects impact fees for parks and recreation. These fees are paid by developers and builders rather than existing residents.
4. Public-Private Partnership
A private operator builds or operates the facility on public land, with the city contributing land, infrastructure access, or its credit rating. The private partner funds construction and operations. This model does not require a property tax increase and has been used for wellness-oriented facilities in other growing suburban markets.
5. State and Federal Grants
Grant programs available for recreation infrastructure in Utah include:
- Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation grants — funds trails, sports parks, and outdoor recreation infrastructure for local governments and eligible private partners (recreation.utah.gov/grants)
- Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) — federal matching grants for public outdoor recreation, administered in Utah by the Division of Outdoor Recreation
- Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program — funds large-scale urban outdoor recreation projects
- USDA Rural Development — funds essential community infrastructure in qualifying areas
6. Naming Rights and Corporate Sponsorships
Facilities or specific amenities can be named in exchange for multi-year corporate sponsorship payments. This reduces the debt burden on the city and does not affect resident taxes.
7. Phased Construction
Building in phases — starting with the highest-demand component such as an aquatic center — allows user fees and membership revenue to contribute to the cost of subsequent phases. Lehi's Legacy Center used a phased approach and has expanded over time.
Recreation Facilities and Property Values: What Research Shows
Studies from the National Recreation and Park Association indicate that proximity to parks and recreational facilities is associated with positive effects on property values in most markets. Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs are covered in more detail in my posts on what you can get in Eagle Mountain under $500,000 and what you can get in Saratoga Springs under $500,000.
Commercial Development Context
Eagle Mountain city leadership has acknowledged that commercial and amenity growth is a priority as the population continues to expand. Recent commercial developments include Walmart opening in August 2025, Freddy's opening in February 2026, and Panda Express, Costa Vida, Papa Murphy's, and Melty all confirming locations in the City Center area. Anytime Fitness is also planned for Eagle Mountain Blvd. Intermountain Health owns 40 acres off Eagle Mountain Blvd with long-term facility plans.
How to Participate in the Community Survey
The survey organizer is seeking input from residents of both Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs before presenting the proposal to city leadership. The survey is open to residents of both cities, takes approximately 30 seconds to complete, and is 100% anonymous unless participants choose to provide their email address for updates.
🗳️ Access the Survey Here
Related reading:
- What Can You Get in Eagle Mountain Under $500,000 in 2026?
- What Can You Get in Saratoga Springs Under $500,000 in 2026?
- New Subdivisions and Developments Coming to Saratoga Springs in 2026
- What Eagle Mountain Builder Reps Won't Tell You
- Moving to Utah County or Salt Lake County in 2026?
Data sources: Eagle Mountain City Visioning Retreat January 2026 (Cedar Valley Sentinel); RAP Tax election results (eaglemountain.gov); Legacy Center subsidy reporting (Lehi Free Press); Thanksgiving Point STEM Center bond (KSL); Saratoga Springs $70M bond vote (Daily Herald); Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation grants; Utah Impact Fees Act, Utah Code Title 11, Chapter 36a.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs have a recreation center? Neither city currently has a full-scale indoor recreation center. The closest facility to both cities is the Legacy Center in Lehi. Together, Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs have a combined population of over 115,000. Eagle Mountain's Rumor Stop page documents the city's position on the subject.
What is the wellness hub proposal? A local resident has proposed a multigenerational community complex for Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs that would include adult wellness amenities (saunas, cold plunge, recovery), a teen space, a children's space, pools, and courts — with no new taxes for residents. The organizer is collecting community input via survey at tally.so/r/obK1Ye before presenting the concept to city leadership.
How could a rec center be funded without raising property taxes? Several mechanisms have been used in other Utah communities: sales tax revenue bonds repaid through future sales tax revenue, developer impact fees charged to new construction, the RAP Tax as a funding foundation, public-private partnerships, state and federal grants, naming rights and corporate sponsorships, and phased construction.
What is the Eagle Mountain RAP Tax and can it fund a rec center? The Recreation, Arts, and Parks Tax was approved by Eagle Mountain voters in November 2025 with 4,992 votes in favor. It is a 0.1% local sales tax generating approximately $600,000 per year. City officials have stated it cannot fund a full-scale recreation center on its own — that would require a separate funding mechanism.
Why did Saratoga Springs voters reject a rec center bond in 2022? The $70 million General Obligation Bond proposed for a recreation and aquatics center would have been secured by a property tax levy. Voters rejected the measure.
Can Saratoga Springs residents participate in the wellness hub survey? Yes. The survey is open to residents of both Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs. It is available at tally.so/r/obK1Ye and takes approximately 30 seconds to complete.