TREMONTON – Changes are in the air in Tremonton. Mayor Lyle Holmgren and the city council are taking the bull by the horns and trying to return Main Street to its glory days.
With chainsaws in one hand and cement trowels in the other they are taking on the huge effort to resurrect and revitalize the city’s downtown commercial district.
The City cut the trees down in Midland Square recently to make changes to the area on Friday April 11, 2025.
Over the past several weeks the honey locust that lined Main Street and trees at Midland Square have been cut down.
“For decades, city leaders, downtown merchants, and residents have sought ways to rejuvenate this area,” Holmgren said in a letter to residents. “In December 2012, Tremonton City submitted a proposal to the American Institute of Architects for a Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) to assist the community and its citizens through town hall and other public meetings in addressing key issues facing our city.”
Holmgren and the city council want to keep the public up to date on their efforts.
“In its final report to the city in 2013, the SDAT team determined that Midland Square, located directly at the center of Main Street, could serve as a catalyst for merchants to attract more shoppers,” he said. “However, they argued that the current design of the square was not conducive to bringing people together.
“With its uneven surface, overgrown trees, and three-foot cement walls, much of the area was neither functional nor practical. The SDAT team recommended the city redesigning the landscape to make it more usable.”
The city plans to modernize Midland Square by building restrooms, adding new lighting and power to better facilitate activities and events. They believe the enhancements would bring in entertainment, patriotic events, the arts, and similar functions.
In 2022, Tremonton City received a Rural Communities Opportunity Grant (RCOG) of $405,720 and allocated additional funds from the city’s general fund for the project.
“According to the contract terms, these RCOG funds must be dedicated to Midland Square to improve the economic viability of downtown, attract new small businesses to Tremonton’s Main Street, and ultimately increase retail sales, sales tax revenue, and job opportunities,” Holmgren said. “The project is required to be completed by December 2025, and it will be. “
The Veterans Memorial at Midland Square will not be moved to another location, the mayor clarified. The city wants the veterans to have more space on the west side of the square near the current Veterans Memorial to continue honoring veterans from the Bear River Valley.
“As work on Midland Square progresses, the concrete flatwork around the current Veterans Memorial will be replaced to match the new concrete flatwork throughout the square,” he said. “The flagpoles will be realigned to accommodate the new military branch, the United States Space Force, established in 2019. The ‘All Gave Some – Some Gave All’ monument, the soldier statue, and plaques with veterans’ names will not be moved from their current location.”
The city commissioned a survey to understand community support for improved sidewalks, lights, dining, and beautification on Main Street. Participants were asked if they supported renovating and improving Main Street. Eighty-three percent of the participants in the survey were either supportive or very supportive of the revitalization of Main Street.
Now that the trees have been removed, the city has plans for installing new water and power infrastructure along Main Street. The plan includes sidewalks, modern streetlights, and greenery in the historic downtown area, from 2nd East and Main to 2nd West and Main.
Tremonton Mayor Lyle Holmgren stands at Midland Square in Tremonton in a file photo.
Tremonton Mayor Lyle Holmgren stands at Midland Square in Tremonton in a file photo.
“This demonstrates the city’s commitment to prioritizing the appearance of storefronts along Main Street,” the mayor said. “Over time, as building modifications take place, those improvements must align with the theme and style of the form-based code approved by the city.”
The city may provide grant funding for merchants and store owners to enhance their store facades.
“Tremonton’s Main Street will continue to evolve, but our goal remains to enhance downtown and make it as vibrant as possible,” Holmgren said. “It’s an exciting time for Tremonton.”