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Show PRISON SITE PROBLEM (So That the People May Knoic) Some publicity was given this week to a meeting of south-easterners south-easterners which had been called to see what could be done to solve the "prison site problem." The confab was spon-sord spon-sord by the Sugar House Chamber of Commerce, which body is on record as a backer of the state park plan, and yet which also is anxious that a suitable site somewhere may be found 'for the prospective Southeast High School. In order to clear the air in regard to the request from the Salt Lake City school board that the Southeast High School be located on 30 acres of the prison site, the following group met together: from the Sugar House Chamber of Commerce Com-merce Paul L. Pehrson, Horace A. Sorensen, Marriner H Merrill, Fred R. Lawson, Ray D. Free, Dale R. Curtis and D. James Cannon; from the Salt Lake City school board Mrs. A. R. Curtis and Horace B. Richards; County Planner George Smeath; and other state park representativss Mrs. L." J. Clements, and Fred Reese. Although these people did not act officially for their respective re-spective organizations, a better understanding of the prison site problem was reached. Here, briefly, is the upshot of the discussion. THE STATE PARK 1. George Smeath. well known planning expert, pointed out that the ISO acres of the prison site were already not enough for proper state park development. If the school is to have 30 acres, it will require modification of park plans. He mentioned that not long ago, New York City had to pay $69,-000,000 $69,-000,000 to clear an area for public park. That tyie of development devel-opment is needed in any city, he said,. Utah is one of two states in the union which has no state park system at present, Mv. Smeath added. 2. Mr. Smeath and other state park backers expressed willingness, however, to cooperate with the school board in t- leoufst for 30 acres, but looked with alarm on some people y-'io were using the school's proposal as a lever to have all of the prison site disposed of through sale, instead of leaving the remaining 150 acres for state park. 3. Before many people could feel secure in giving wholehearted whole-hearted support to the -school, they wished to secure evidence that a militant, "shortsighted" minority would not peril the esablished state park legislation. THE HIGH SCHOOL 1. The bill which is being submitted to the legislature simply asks for 30 acres of the prison site, without specifying which part of the acreage. 2. At least three school board members voiced approval this week of a joint state parkHhigh school use of the prison site: Mrs. A. R. Curtis, LeGrand P. Backman and Horace B. Richards. It is reported that the other board members are also in accord with that plan. CONCLUSION If legislation can be introduced which will give some state agency (preferably a State Park Department) jurisdiction over the state park and high school development at the prison site, there is a strnog evidence that widespread support will be given to the cooperative plan. The two uses for the prison site would have to be carefully worked out by a responsible agency. |