A master plan for a controversial redesign of Heber City Main Street Park, also referred to as the Trailhead Plaza, is nearing completion, with a final draft to be presented to the City Council on June 2. If approved, Terracon will move into the next phase, which will include creating a detailed construction budget and drawings.
Terracon Consultants project manager Lars Erickson and principal Dave Harris presented a preferred master plan to the City Council during its session two weeks ago. City councilors requested time to mull over the plan before providing direction on what the final plan should look like.
Erickson and Harris arrived in the City Council chambers in the early evening on Tuesday to collect that feedback. It was around 10:25 p.m. when the City Council finally reached the agenda item. The discussion had been slated for one hour, but given the time, councilors’ feedback was brief and fast-paced, taking less than 20 minutes.
The consultant’s preferred master plan was based on a public survey and feedback period in February and March, as well as elements of the city’s first park master plan, which architect Roger Brooks designed in March 2025.
Terracon’s plan includes a skate/ice ribbon (though a smaller one than what Brooks originally envisioned), a rope play area suspended over the ribbon, an all-abilities playground, a splash pad, a fire pit and a raised berm that would serve as a sledding hill in the winter. It also focuses on preserving the lawn and historic trees, which were not prioritized in Brooks’ plan.
The price tag for Brooks’ original design was an estimated $23 million. Terracon will include preliminary cost estimates, which will likely be lower given the scaling back of Brooks’ vision, in its final master plan.
City councilors are split on whether to include retail in the park and, if so, how much. Brooks’ plan was “to have at least 20 vendors on the square at all times” in see-through kiosks called jewel boxes and in permanent retail buildings alongside Main Street.
“Absolutely no on the businesses on Main Street. I think that will compete with businesses that are already struggling to stay ahead,” City Councilor Yvonne Barney said.
City Councilor Aaron Cheatwood agreed. He was “a proponent for small, pop-up retail” like the jewel boxes. Meanwhile, City Councilor Sid Ostergaard emphasized the importance of retail picking up some of the park’s costs.
“We need to be really concerned about the pro forma of this. Commercial is going to help this be viable in the future and pay for stuff,” he said.
The park may also be funded by sources including city Trails, Arts and Parks tax revenue, impact fees on new developments, of which the city has already set aside over $8 million for the park, state and federal grants and public-private partnerships. Mayor Heidi Franco also suggested placing a municipal bond on the project.
Ostergaard’s and Councilor Mike Johnston’s feedback on the design was overall positive, aside from his lack of enthusiasm about the rope play area, which City Councilor Morgan Murdock shared.
“I have shared this with neighbors. Everybody loves the splash pad and the ice ribbon and the stake ribbon in the summer. I think you nailed it,” Johnston said. “It gives us vibrancy and energy to downtown, which is the goal. We have thousands of acres of open space around us and quiet spaces and natural spaces. I don’t think downtown is the place to have that anymore.”
Not all were chill about the ice ribbon, which has also proven to be controversial among residents for its size and proximity to the Midway Ice Rink.
“I know that Mike says that he’s talked to (residents). I’ve seen more than that that have said, ‘Absolutely not,’ to any ice skating,” Barney said.
Cheatwood said he liked the roller skating ribbon and could come around to making it an ice ribbon as well. However, he did not want to see it built immediately.
“Let’s build it as the demand appears. I think roller skating is easy. It costs concrete. I think ice is harder,” he said.
Cheatwood, Ostergaard and Franco agreed the key to redesigning Main Street Park would be a phased approach.
Franco said public reception would be negative if the city started with anything more than it “can afford.”
For her, that meant the basics: a pavilion and other shaded areas, upgraded restrooms and drinking fountains, more trees, wider sidewalks and a new playground. She also expressed her disapproval of commercializing the space.
“There are so many ideas here, right? And the costs are incredible, too. I think the public would appreciate it if we would start simple,” she said. “We’ve got to scale this up as we can afford it, no matter what the golden goose is at the end.”