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Midway council backs Town Square master plan; prioritizes recreation building and ice-rink work to protect grants
Summary
Council members endorsed a comprehensive Town Square master plan for 150 West Main Street but agreed immediate work must focus on designing a qualifying recreation building and critical ice-rink upgrades to preserve grant funding and allow phased future improvements.
The Midway City Council on July 21 reviewed a proposed Town Square Master Plan for the municipal block at 150 West Main Street and agreed the plan should guide long-term improvements while prioritizing a recreation building and ice-rink upgrades needed to retain current grant funding.
Staff presented design concepts that include north-south and east-west promenades, relocation of central parking to create a larger green gathering area, stronger connections to Main Street and Centennial Park, additional seating and shade, and facilities to support year-round community events. Council members said the master plan must remain a flexible, phased blueprint rather than a single large-dollar project.
Council discussion focused on which elements to tackle first. Members repeatedly emphasized that constructing a qualifying recreation building and completing ice-rink and chiller-system improvements are time-sensitive because grant awards require an eligible project. Nancy O'Toole highlighted additional grant opportunities, including a new rural UDOT program that could fund sidewalks, trails, parking, and other public improvements without a local match.
Concerns raised included the tight timeframes for qualifying projects under grant deadlines, the overall cost of executing the full master plan, and trade-offs from reducing parking in Town Square while preserving access for downtown businesses, Swiss Days, and city facilities. Several members questioned the wisdom of a new water feature given drought conditions and ongoing maintenance costs.
Council conclusions directed staff to revise the master plan with a realistic phasing strategy, prepare updated building concepts that meet grant qualifications, and return the revised plan for further consideration. Staff were expressly told to prioritize concepts that enable year-round recreation and to obtain state or grant-agency approvals prior to committing funds or construction.
