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Orderville leaders, veterans discuss moving Legion Hall as town advances park and ballfield plan
Summary
Orderville officials and community members discussed a proposal to remove or relocate the American Legion building at the Little League complex to make room for a multi-element park, while seeking alternatives to preserve the post’s history and use.
Orderville Town Board members and residents spent the bulk of a recent meeting debating whether a small, historic American Legion building should be removed or relocated to allow construction of a new recreation complex that would add a second baseball field, playgrounds, a splash pad and parking.
The discussion came after town staff presented renderings for a recreation complex that would expand the existing Little League site and add a toddler playground, an all-abilities fitness course, a pavilion, a splash pad, new concessions and accessible restrooms. The presenter said the proposed second baseball field would allow the town to pursue state funds for field lighting and host more tournaments.
Supporters said the complex would benefit hundreds of local residents, particularly families with young children, and improve parking and accessibility. Veterans and former Legion members urged the town to explore options that would preserve the post’s historic features, including relocation of the structure or reuse of materials. American Legion representative Danny said the hall “has historical significance for this community” and that veterans would prefer preservation over demolition.
Town staff described the park plan as preliminary and said no final decision would be made at the meeting. The board discussed potential alternative locations, including town-owned parcels near the pump house and a fenced property the town holds, and asked for more research on costs and feasibility for moving the building. Board members and residents also suggested pursuing a title search and reviewing past minutes to clarify how ownership of the ballpark property transferred between the Legion and the town.
Courtney, the staff presenter, said the chosen site was picked because it could fit all planned components together and because moving the playground downriver raised safety concerns from earlier consultant work. She added the project team has submitted grant applications and received conditional support from the Utah Department of Recreation for funding that would pay for excavation, one baseball field, fencing, lighting, sprinklers, a toddler playground, concessions/bathrooms and a pavilion if awarded.
Several participants urged creation of a memorandum of understanding to clarify future use and responsibilities if the building remains on or near town-owned land. Residents recommended coordinating with county officials and historical-preservation groups to document and, where possible, protect the post’s historic character. Town board members asked for an estimate of the cost to move the building and for professional assessments on whether it could be disassembled and reassembled.
No formal action was taken; the board publicly committed to further study and to include American Legion members in planning. A bid for excavation of the Little League field was later tabled by the board pending additional information about the building’s disposition and the site plan.
Community members and presenters asked that any next steps include clear outreach to the Legion and documentation of meetings and decisions.
The town’s park project lead said the first grant award notices should arrive in a few weeks; if the grant is awarded, the town would have two years to complete phase one, which the presenter said includes the baseball field, fencing, lighting and the concession/bathroom building.
