Ogden City Recognizes 5 Years of Park Improvements – More in Process

Ogden City recognizes five years of improvements to public parks, trails, and recreation amenities across the community. Where public input has made it clear that amenities and not just acres are essential, the upgrades demonstrate the city's continued commitment to creating high-quality public parks for families, neighborhoods and visitors.

Since 2019, Ogden has completed more than 40 projects at parks and recreation areas throughout the city, with the majority of these finalized in the last two years. These include new playgrounds, ADA-compliant walkways, modern restrooms, resurfaced courts, improved trail segments, upgraded irrigation systems, and restored ballfields. Projects have been supported through city funds, RAMP grants, and partner support.

While there has been significant progress, the City Administration recognizes that there is still considerable opportunity for continued improvements across the city.

"We've been working intently to complete a number of park projects that had been delayed or backlogged over the years, and we're excited about what's still ahead," Mayor Ben Nadolski said. "I want to thank our employees across the city who have worked hard to see these projects through, and I also want to thank the Ogden City Council for their continued support and prioritization of funding that helps move capital improvement projects toward completion."

Recent improvements include a new playground and swings at Jaycee Park, with additional upgrades planned for 2026. At Big Dee Park, crews installed a new playground with ADA access and are now constructing a dog park. Bonneville Park has received two new playgrounds, shade structures, basketball court resurfacing and water-smart irrigation technology. The Marshall White Center recently introduced a brand-new park and top-tier playing fields as part of the larger community center project. Grandview has also seen playable surface improvements with a focus on soccer. Other neighborhood parks like Monroe, Francis, Romrell, Orchard, Courtyard, and Grandview have each received new playgrounds, walkways, or sports facility updates.

Larger park complexes such as West Stadium Park, Miles Goodyear and West Ogden Park have benefited from baseball and softball field reconstruction, new restrooms and trailhead signage. The Parkway Trail System has also seen repaving and upgrades from the mouth of Ogden Canyon to Harrison Boulevard and several other key trailheads.

This summer, Ogden City hosted an open house at the Golden Hours Senior Center to share proposed improvements to Lester Park, the city's original grand park, located in the East Central neighborhood. The event featured a presentation from local landscape architect and Ogden resident Shalae Larsen, owner of IO Landarch, whose design firm created the updated park concept. The

plans were shaped by neighborhood feedback and include upgraded lighting, woven walking paths, a new playground, improved restrooms, event space, multi-season programming and new recreational features including playing courts and pickleball. Other park improvements on the docket immediately include 9th Street Park, the East side dog park at Big D., 4th Street expansion, and improvements at Mt. Ogden Park.

"The response to the Lester Park plans was overwhelmingly positive," Parks and Recreation Manager Edd Bridge said. "This is a great example of what happens when we listen to the community and take care of our most historic public spaces."

The city has committed $4 million to the Lester Park project. Construction will begin this fall with the addition of pickleball courts as the first phase.

Ogden is also in the middle of a citywide parks and recreation utilization study that will help guide future planning and resource allocation. The study is collecting data on how and when parks are used, the types of activities taking place, and where additional improvements may be needed. Sources include location-based cell phone data, community surveys and on-site observations.

The study is measuring average daily visits, peak usage hours, seasonal trends, dwell time, top-used amenities and underserved recreational needs. It will help the city better understand how to meet resident needs and ensure fair, effective park investments across all neighborhoods.

On Sept. 2, the city received official notice from the Ogden School District identifying the former Taylor Canyon Elementary School property as surplus. This begins the process for the city to evaluate whether the site should be considered for public use. City leaders say the opportunity will be reviewed through the lens of current planning, neighborhood context, neighborhood engagement, and long-term public benefit.

"This is exactly the kind of moment our planning efforts prepare us for," said Public Services Executive Director, Justin Anderson. "When opportunities like Taylor Canyon come up, we want to be ready-with data, with community insight and with a clear understanding of where our investments can make the biggest difference."

"This tells us we are in a strong position," Anderson said. "It also reinforces the need to invest wisely in the spaces we already own, and to do so throughout every neighborhood in Ogden. The improvements we've made in the last five years have provided better access, more amenities and stronger public spaces that support The Ogden Way."

The city's approach to park planning and investment aligns with the principles of The Ogden Way, a community framework focused on strong infrastructure, stable neighborhoods, healthy lifestyles and meaningful connections. Leaders say the focus on long-term maintenance and responsible upgrades will continue to guide future decisions as the city grows.

Ogden is a City of Service and a Community of Opportunity. For more information about city parks or to view the Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan, visit ogdencity.gov/parks