MENDON – On Saturday, July 26, the Mendon Youth Council broke ground for the Mendon City Youth Council Legacy Park. The proposed $1.5 – $2 million park is being built on a 6-acre piece of land next to Mountainside Elementary School at approximately 125 N. 100 E. Mendon.
Mendon Mayor Ed Buist, County Commissioner Nolan Gunnell and Representative Casey Snider were all in attendance to show their support for the youth-generated project.
The Mendon City Youth Council and others stand on the ground where the new park will be built in Saturday July 26, 2025.
“Our vision for the Legacy Project was born five years ago on the campus on Utah State University, during the Utah Association of Youth Councils Leadership Conference,” said Nicole Norris, the adult youth council adviser. “Over lunch our youth discussed what amenities they would like to have in Mendon that we don’t currently have: tennis courts, basketball courts, etc.”
The youth council began gathering information on how to go about building a park. They approached a landscape architect, R Michael Kelly, and he put together a concept drawing. The group presented a proposal to Mendon City Council for permission to continue their research.
“They strongly approved and appreciated that the youth didn’t just bring a problem to the city council but also came up with a solution and plan,” she said. “We surveyed the community for feedback on what amenities they would like to see in the park, met with the city engineer and designed the park based on all the information collected.”
The youth council recognized the financial limitations of a small-town budget, so they took the initiative to raise the necessary funds themselves through grants, donations, and fundraisers.
Allie Norris, this year’s youth mayor, said they gathered information through community surveys, collaboration with city officials, and partnerships with engineers and designers, and they developed and refined plans for a new multi-use facility.
“The groundbreaking marks the beginning of Phase One of the project, but additional funding is still needed to bring the full vision of Legacy Park to life,” she said. “The groundbreaking marks the beginning of Phase One of the project, but additional funding is still needed to bring the full vision of Legacy Park to life.”
The youth council will continue its fundraising efforts and seek community support to ensure that this new recreation space becomes a vibrant and lasting resource for Mendon residents of all ages.
So far, the group has found $300,000 in grants and raised over $100,000 through donations.
- Donations: the youth council is reaching out to possible donors.
- Fundraisers: A youth council member worked with a citizen of Mendon and designed a set of pickleball paddles they sold. All the proceeds go to the park. Proceeds from the 24th of July City Celebration pickleball tournament will also go to the park.
- Sweat Equity: the youth and community plan to do as much labor as possible in collaboration with the contractor.
The park was broken up into different phases. Each phase will be completed when the funding becomes available.
With the funds raised so far, they will be able to build the parking lot and two pickleball courts.