If you’re a resident in Cottonwood Heights you can help (re)name a park on the east side of the city.

The 1.81-acre public park on 3625 E. Doverhill Dr. (along 7650 S. between Summer Hill Dr. and Primaverii Ct.) is currently under construction but set to be opened later this month. Before it can be officially opened, the park needs a permanent name. 

Previous conversations and development documentation has referenced the park as Doverhill Park, partly because of the street name it abuts. However, the Cottonwood Heights City Council wanted to ensure the park name was something that fit the surrounding community and resident preference—not simply named after the street. 

Residents were asked to submit their park name suggestions throughout the month of August. Over 55 names were proposed. 

Screenshot of preliminary Doverhill Park landscaping and design plans from 2023. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights) Screenshot of preliminary Doverhill Park landscaping and design plans from 2023. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights)

Some of the more unique suggestions included: Majestic Mount Park, Primarahaill Park, Primavera Point Park, Tuckaway Park, Hidden Peak Park, Hilltop Park, Harmony Hollow Park, Pine Peak Park, Everpeak Park, and Paintbrush Park. 

Councilmember Shawn Newell said he wants to make sure the park’s name encompasses the community and environment. 

Some of the location-based suggestions included: Cottonwood Canopy Park, Canyon Gate Park, Alpenglow Park, Brighton Meadows, Cottonwood Crossing/Crest Park, Canyon’s View Park and Rocky Mountain Park. Councilmember Suzanne Hyland said she wants to make sure the name of the park is identifiable with the place of Cottonwood Heights it’s situated in.

Knowing they had to narrow down the list significantly, the council wanted more information about the area and its history. They invited long-time resident Jim Peters to the council meeting on Aug. 5 to share this knowledge of the area.  

“I’m suggesting the park name reflect the history, like Brighton Pointe Park or Heritage Park,” Peters said, mentioning how the neighborhood residents want to preserve the area of the park and the history of the Brighton Pointe Area. 

Peters detailed how the area’s history traces back to a farmhouse and homestead property. Church buildings of neighborhood chapels owned by their associated religious denominations were developed on the property. At that time, the park area that existed was referred to as Bicentennial Park. 

As a submitted name suggestion, Bicentennial Park was not the only one to reference the area's history. A handful of suggestions paid homage to different stories from the area’s history. In fact – one suggestion even mentioned Jim Peters explicitly:

• Peter’s Park was suggested “after our neighborhood long-standing residents and ‘founders’ of the original ballpark Jim & Jen Peters from over half century ago.”
• Green Flake Park was suggested because “It would be nice to honor one of the first black Pioneers to arrive in SLC by naming the park Green Flake. He lived on 7100 S. and 1300 East and is buried in the Union Cemetery.” 
• Cox Fort Park was suggested after “the first settler Jehu Cox and his donation of 10 acres to the ‘fort’.” 
• Watercolor Park was suggested from a resident’s story. “I lived on Summerhill while I was in high school in the previous century. I live off Bengal now and lived in C.H. for decades. Watercolor park is in honor of the many artists that lived on those streets… i.e. Gary Collins and John Collins and Sherry Thompson.” 
• Merrill Park was suggested twice “after the man who gave the land to the LDS church with a caveat that it should be used as green space. Victor Merrill gifts ⅓ acre to the LDS Church for this purpose in 1973.’ 
• Molen Green “pays tribute to architect Ron Molen, whose visionary mid-century modern designs shaped the Sherwood Hills neighborhood and helped define the architectural identity of Cottonwood Heights… This name grounds the park in local history while inviting the community to carry that legacy forward.” 

“The park came together because of community,” said Mayor Mike Weichers, emphasizing the importance of place within the city’s communities. 

In 2019, a fire damaged a religious meetinghouse so severely that leaders decided to decommission and sell the property. Learning of the sale, residents banded together with a petition for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to donate the property to the city for use as park and open space. (See previous article “Cottonwood Heights residents petition for open space on Doverhill Drive” through the City Journals website.) 

“The park would not have existed without the neighbors,” Peters said.

“The dirt in the flat area of the park had been pushed up to the north end of the park, to the current side of the church properties, to accommodate the irrigation ditch around Prospector Dr. because of the water rights,” Peters said. 

Since 2023, the area has been under construction as part of a new Ivory Homes development. As part of the city’s approval to develop new housing in the neighborhood, Ivory Homes was required to preserve the existing park, including the hillside and pavilion, and update the area as a public park. (See previous article “City approves agreement with Ivory Homes for new Doverhill public park” on the City Journals website.) 

In anticipation of the updated park opening this month, the Cottonwood Heights City Council has narrowed down the 55-suggestions list to three in early August. The final contenders include: Brighton Point Park, Doverhill Park, and Summer Hill Park. 

Councilmember Ellen Birrell said she’s heard from her constituents that they’re in support of calling the park Summer Hill, but many are still attached to the Doverhill name. 

The public park is set to include a pavilion, play equipment, walking trail, and central lawn area. Residents are encouraged to cast their vote for their favorite name for their new public park before 5 p.m. on Sept. 15.

To vote or submit a new name suggestion, visit the city’s website at: www.cottonwoodheights.utah.gov/community/name-our-new-park. 

If visiting the main city website’s home page:  hover over the “Community” tab, navigate down to the “Connect” section, and click on the “Name Our New Park” page (second from the bottom).