In her annual State of the City Address to members of the Logan Municipal Council on Feb. 20, Mayor Holly Daines discussed plans for new recreational projects and much more.
LOGAN – With her dreams of downtown revitalization now coming to fruition, Mayor Holly Daines is shifting her far-sighted focus toward new recreational projects for city residents.
In her annual State of the City Address to members of the Logan Municipal Council on Feb. 20, Daines discussed those plans and much more.
Daines and city planners now have their sights set on repurposing nearly 200 acres of land west of town that was part of the former Logan Landfill and its protection zone into recreational space.
“A park this large will likely be a 10-year project,” Daines explained. “But the first phase, beginning this summer, will commence with the installation of roads, a Woodruff neighborhood park, a 60-acre disc-golf course and an 11-acre dog park.
“In a few years,” she added, “phase two will turn the landfill’s ‘trash hill’ into a 90-acre mountain bike park … Other phases will come later.”
Daines promised that the project will keep much of the existing natural landscaping and wetlands surrounding the former landfill and the recreational complex will also be tied into both the city and county trails master plans.
The complex will be funded by a $750,000 grant from the state’s Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant program; a matching grant of $450,000 from the local Restaurant, Arts, Parks and Zoos (RAPZ) tax; and significant funding from what Daines called, “the diligent stewardship of Logan Environmental Department as they planned for the landfill closure.”
In fulfilling one of her original campaign promises, Daines has certainly left her mark on Logan’s downtown area.
In recent years, local residents have seen infrastructure improvements to the city’s theater district; demolition of old structures in the city’s Center Block to make room for the new Carol and Jim Laub Plaza; a new Logan Library rising from the ashes of the old structure; a new central fire station for the city; and the introduction of residential multi-story living opportunities in the city center.
The changes, Daines said, have made the downtown area into an attractive place for residents to live, work and play.
Not content to rest on those laurels, however, the city’s staff and municipal council are now focusing on another of Daines’ promises, the effort to enlarge and connect city trails and parks.
The Logan Outdoor Recreation Complex on the site of the old landfill will be a major part of the effort. In addition to that project, Daines said that Logan Parks & Recreation Department will soon open a bridge across the Logan River at Trapper Park.
That span will provide access to the 47-acre conservation easement along the river.
“Parks received a RAPZ grant to play for the bridge design and subsequently another grant for construction,” the mayor explained. “The next step is to seek funding to put in the trail.”
In other news affecting the Parks & Recreation news, the city will be ending its nearly half-century joint management partnership with Logan High School for the Logan Community Recreation Center on June 30 of 2025.
“That change will allow the Logan School District to accommodate more high school sanctioned sports and other needs at Logan High School,” Daines added.
Acknowledging that the recreation partnership has been an asset to the city for 48 years, the mayor explained that Parks & Recreation is meanwhile rethinking how they will provide recreation programs while transitioning out of that facility.
During her State of the City address, Daines also discussed Logan’s economic and community development efforts; upcoming plans for the city’s Light & Power Department; and, recent accomplishments of the Logan City Police and Logan City Fire departments.