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Designers present 'Heart of Downtown' master plan with ice ribbon, arts village and phased funding
Summary
Design team showed a multi-phase Heart of Downtown vision centered on an ice ribbon and Arts Village, estimated public-phase 1 cost $23–35M, and proposed a 15–20 year buildout using mixed public/private funding and potential TIF, grants and ground leases.
Designers from the firm 'Designing Local' presented an abbreviated draft of the Heart of Downtown Master Plan, describing a phased vision to knit Orem’s arts, recreation and civic assets into a year-round, family-friendly urban core.
The plan centers on two signature elements: an 'ice ribbon' — a mechanically refrigerated linear rink that functions year‑round for skating and rolling activities — and an Arts Village loop south of the pool. A proposed civic anchor building would include ground-floor community space and a second-floor event venue sized to accommodate roughly 250 people, with concessions and cabanas near the ice ribbon and pool.
Costs and phasing: the team estimated public-share costs for phase 1 (ice ribbon, civic anchor, concessions and relocated play area) at roughly $23–35 million and presented benchmark projects in the $9–38 million range. The full program is envisioned over 15–20 years and would include potential private development (a boutique hotel and mixed-use buildings) to offset public investment.
Transportation and parking: planners proposed a Festival Street concept for 720 South to improve pedestrian access between the Arts Center and Sierra Park, shared-use paths on Tiger Way, and a parking strategy that shifts existing park parking to edges and adds structured parking — the study estimated adding roughly 547 net spaces while zoning would suggest about 640 additional spaces are required.
Funding approach: the plan’s financial model anticipates revenue from property and sales taxes, ticketing and concessions, event rentals, cabana rentals and creative incubation to support roughly $38 million in revenue over 20 years; additional capital could come from grants, ground leases, tax increment financing or a special assessment area.
Next steps: designers asked council for feedback and offered to take additional input from stakeholders; council members raised accessibility, scheduling and traffic questions and asked staff and the team to refine renderings, ADA access, parking management and implementation sequencing.
