Payson just put a permanent padlock on one of its favorite outdoor playgrounds. The city, teaming up with neighboring Lehi, has finalized a 480-acre conservation easement at the mouth of Payson Canyon, guaranteeing that the Forebay Recreation Area stays in public hands for good. The deal protects trails, a pond, and key watershed land where locals hike, ride mountain bikes, and explore on horseback. Volunteers and city leaders walked the property together on Tuesday, treating the tour as both a victory lap and a planning session for what comes next.
According to KSL, Payson rolled out the conservation proposal last fall, the city council signed off in November 2025 and Lehi agreed a month later to step in as the official easement holder. Friends of Forebay committee member Adam Cowie said the move "preserves recreational open space forever," and he pointed straight to years of volunteer trail work and careful planning as the real engine behind the agreement.
What the Easement Actually Covers
The city originally bought the Forebay property in 2001 to shield its watershed and wildlife habitat, then worked with the National Park Service on a management plan that set the rules of the road for long-term care. That plan later became the blueprint for the new easement. City records show the land was even labeled surplus in 2016 for a brief stretch, a move that helped spark a new wave of community organizing. Upgrades such as a lower parking lot, completed in 2021, formalized access and signaled that Forebay was meant for public use. As Payson City documents make clear, those planning efforts laid the groundwork for locking in permanent protection.
From Hand-Built Singletrack to Shared Stewardship
Local trailbuilder Carey Pierce first started flagging and cutting singletrack at the base of the canyon in 2003. Out of that early work grew the grassroots group now known as Friends of Forebay, which spent years refining routes and setting up stewardship partnerships. Their homegrown efforts eventually fed into the formal conservation proposal presented to city officials. Pierce told KSL that patient relationship building with city leaders was crucial, a slow burn that ultimately allowed for multi-user access while still putting habitat and watershed health at the top of the priority list.
Future Trails, Facilities, and Long-Game Care
Under the terms of the easement, the city can add thoughtfully planned amenities such as restrooms, picnic spots, and new trail connections, but it cannot approve development that would cut off public access. Payson is already exploring a bike park concept on the north end of the property, and planners are talking about an equestrian loop and more amenities tailored to different user groups, reporting that surfaced in the Daily Herald. Supporters say the easement finally provides a clear roadmap for funding, ongoing maintenance, and volunteer work, so the area does not just stay open, it stays cared for.
How Locals Can Plug In
The Forebay Committee is still actively recruiting volunteers for trail upkeep, on-the-ground stewardship, and community outreach. Meeting announcements and project updates are posted on the committee page via Payson City, where residents can also find details on upcoming work days and planning sessions. Anyone with questions about the new easement or how stewardship decisions get made can reach out directly to the city parks department for specifics.
