Neighbors Serving Neighbors on National Day of Service

At Provo City, we believe in the power of community—and this year’s National Day of Service was a shining example of what happens when we come together for the common good. On Saturday, September 7th, our MyHometown Initiative brought residents, volunteers, and organizations from across the city together to work on projects that beautify our neighborhoods, enhance our sense of camaraderie, and make Provo an even better place to live.

This year, our MyHometown Neighborhoods of Pioneer Park, South Freedom, and Dixon completed four significant projects:

1. Parkway Trail Cleanup at the Geneva Road Trailhead

2. Preparation of the Future Alignment of the Parkway Trail on the north side of the Provo River near Macey’s

3. Partnering with Habitat for Humanity to prepare a home at 255 South 800 West for painting

4. Installing Handrails and Replacing Sod at a home with a newly constructed handicapped ramp at 853 West 200 South
   

We were thrilled to have 375 volunteers step forward—plus many more ongoing MyHometown service volunteers—contributing over 584.75 hours of hard work. Their dedication made a tangible difference in our city. Special thanks go out to our project leads: Jeff and Ann Alexander, Greg and Lynnell King, Joyce and Bill Kuttler, Alan and Dahrl Thomson, Alan and Margaret Wilkins, Rick Anderson, Roger and Christine Durst, Gary and Annette Ashton, and Steve and Jane Owen.

I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our city staff, including James Cornaby, Rhett Courney and his crew, and Thalia Pope, who assisted with tree removal, dumpster provisions, and the tool trailer. Your work ensured that the day ran smoothly—even despite a small run-in with a nest of yellow jackets!

We were especially excited to see such a strong turnout of volunteers from our newest MyHometown Neighborhood in Dixon. It’s encouraging to watch our initiative continue to grow, as neighbors, local churches, non-profits, and businesses come together to make a difference.

The MyHometown Initiative is all about building friendships, fostering leadership, and creating lasting improvements in our neighborhoods. We aim to create spaces where families want to invest their time, money, and energy—places where they want to stay and grow. The National Day of Service was a perfect reflection of that mission.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this day of service, for showing once again that Provo’s greatest asset is its people. Together, we are making our neighborhoods stronger, our city more beautiful, and our community more connected. Let's keep this momentum going!

Join Us for Provo's Epic Sports Park Grand Opening!

One of my favorite ways to connect with you has been through our “Popsicles in the Park” events. These gatherings have allowed me to visit your neighborhoods, hear your thoughts, and discuss the issues that matter most to you—all while enjoying a sweet treat. I’ve treasured these moments, building new friendships and sharing in the joy of community.

As summer fades, we still have two more opportunities to meet and chat. Our next “Popsicles in the Park” event will be at Quail Orchard Park on Wednesday, September 18, at 5 PM. I hope you’ll join me for what promises to be another wonderful evening of conversation and connection. RSVP here.

But the real highlight is the grand opening celebration for Provo's brand-new Epic Regional Sports Park on Saturday, September 21, at 10:00 AM. This is more than just another park—it's a landmark achievement for Provo, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you! Please join us for an action-packed morning featuring thrilling skydivers, a spectacular pyrotechnics display, and a live DJ setting the vibe! Explore the expansive 20 fields, stroll along the beautiful walking paths, and let the kids enjoy the two state-of-the-art playgrounds. With exciting games, delicious popsicles, surprises around every corner, and fun activities for the whole family, this is an event you won't want to miss. RSVP here!

Come and be a part of history as we celebrate the grand opening of our epic sports park—where memories are made and the community comes together!

An Olympic Story, Right Here in Provo

I hope the Olympics added as much excitement to your summer as they did to mine. Like many of you, nothing grabs me quite like a good underdog story when watching the Olympics. Knowing the trials and struggles in an athlete’s life makes their achievements resonate deeper. Provo happens to have an Olympic underdog story that Provo residents are a part of and can be proud of.

When I first came on as Mayor, I walked into a crisis with the Peaks Ice Arena. By no fault of Provo’s, it was headed to auction. Knowing it had been used in the 2002 Olympics pained me to think of losing it. Can you imagine it being replaced by an apartment building?

In a leap of faith, I chose to have our Provo City team take on sole responsibility for operating the venue. I knew the risks but decided to trust in our community and our Parks and Recreation Department.

One of their great ideas was installing a workout space and turf to support indoor soccer and other field sports in otherwise unused space like behind the viewing stands. You, our residents, promptly showed up big time—for fitness, for soccer, and, of course, continuing to use it for hockey, figure skating, and other uses of the ice sheets. And here’s the fantastic thing: Provo City no longer has to subsidize operations there. The Peaks Ice Arena has become self-sustaining! While several local Olympic venues rely on a legacy endowment to keep them going, ours is sustained by users throughout the region. Thank you!

A few months ago, we hosted the International Olympic Committee members at the arena. They loved seeing kids playing hockey on one ice sheet and practicing figure skating routines on the other. But we didn’t realize just how impressed they were until I was with them at a later event. They had toured other venues in Utah and loved them, but the Peaks Ice Arena seemed to be the hot topic, being referenced as perhaps one of the finest examples in the world of an Olympic venue that had successfully transferred into ongoing community use. From heading to the auction block to that kind of acclaim? How’s that for a comeback story?

We are thrilled about the announcement that the Olympics are coming to Utah again in 2034 and that Provo’s ice arena will again host Olympic events. It will be great to have the world here again and experience our venue and our exceptional community!