Recreation a top focus for city

PLEASANT GROVE — After hearing the concerns Pleasant Grove residents have for their city's future development Saturday, members of a visiting team of architects who are in town to help develop a long-term plan were left with a tall order.

"I'm a little overwhelmed by all the things you think we can fix," said Jerry Ernst, head of the nine-member Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team from the American Institute of Architects that is spending five days in Pleasant Grove to help identify a direction for future development.

Ernst and his team were brought in through the work of a citizen's committee in Pleasant Grove, and while the city has had no direct role in program, elected officials have expressed strong support for the idea and were in attendance at Saturday's meeting, where residents raised a number of concerns regarding the fast-growing city.

About 225 residents attended Saturday's meeting at Pleasant Grove Junior High, and 42 took advantage of the opportunity to make their concerns public.

Many of the comments focused on a perceived lack of recreational opportunities for old and young alike. Multiple residents said they would like to see more playing fields, parks and trails in the city. A new recreational center was also a common request.

"I feel like in a way, our kids are being ignored as far as athletics and normal things," resident Sandy Call said. "I feel bad because we end up taking our kids to Lehi or American Fork because they're so much better there."

Some of those who spoke pointed to the recently announced Sundance Commons project, a major retail center to be built at the I-15 offramp in the south part of town, as a positive sign and a chance to increase the city's tax base and pay for all the things residents are requesting.

But some residents asked the R/UDAT committee to give special attention to the downtown area, so it would not be abandoned amid all the growth.

"Sometimes we get so anxious to have the new that we tear down the old; then we become very sorry, but we can't replace it," resident Ruth Shoell said. "My plea is please don't destroy our heritage. We can have the new, and we can have all the developments, and then our tax base will handle (the city's needs) without destroying all that has made us and given us the identity of Pleasant Grove."

Nearly every resident who spoke expressed profound gratitude to the members of the R/UDAT panel, who are donating their time to the project, and encouraged community support for their recommendations.