Taylorsville’s Mayor and City Council are keenly focused on the future. They are working to bring sharpness and clarity to the direction of the city. You might even say they are working on a perfect vision for Taylorsville – a 2020 Vision. 

“We want everyone to come together and not only define what they want for Taylorsville but work to implement that vision,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “There is so much happening here. My hope is to continue to build on all of the city’s successes in making our city even stronger.”

Mayor Overson, City Council members, city administrators and staff have been using “Priorities Meetings” to hone that vision. The goal is to implement priorities of the city’s elected and appointed leaders based on the input and feedback of their constituents. Efforts include bringing new business and housing to the city, and plans for prime development locations, transportation and land use. Toward that end, the vision depends on collaboration and involvement.

“We have been working with key stakeholders, as well as elected officials and government colleagues with shared constituencies, to maximize resources in meeting these goals,” Mayor Overson said. “Our vision focuses on new business and economic growth taking place across the city, as well as development opportunities and projects on the horizon.”

City leaders are calling their efforts a “2020 Vision” because, of course, perfect eyesight is 20/20 and they are looking to the next decade (the 2020s) and beyond. The vision reflects the five main areas of Economic Development; Transportation; Public Safety; Arts, Parks and Recreation; and Community Building. City leaders defined goals and projects in each of those areas during their Priorities Meetings. Some details include:

Economic Development

New businesses are opening each month across the city and celebrating with Ribbon Cutting events, joined by city officials and ChamberWest representatives. Bulldozers and backhoes cleared the site of the old Kmart store at 5400 South and Bangerter Highway to make way for the new mixed-use project, called Volta.

Major renovations also have been made at the Carriage Square shopping center where more than 40 individual business owners, who come from at least 10 different areas of the world, run retail stores, restaurants and other businesses. The renovation has included demolition and repaving of the entire parking lot, the planting of new landscaping throughout, the addition of curbs and gutters for ADA compliance, and the widening of sidewalks and patio areas to support outdoor seating along building fronts.

Transportation

Construction improvements are in full force along Redwood Road from 6200 South to I-215, with the aim of improving traffic flow and safety along the corridor. The Redwood Road Mobility Project, from 4100 to 5400 South, also has brought such enhancements as the installation of a right turn pocket near Taylorsville High School, consolidations of commercial accesses and the removal and reconstruction of aging curbs, sidewalks and pedestrian ramps. Overhead utilities and power poles are going underground, and wider parking strips and landscaping will improve aesthetics.

Major work is underway, too, at 4700 South and Bangerter Highway to construct a new freeway-style interchange. A new culvert was installed at the corner of 2700 West and Longmeadow Drive to make it safer for area students to get to school, and a raised median along 4700 South between the east- and westbound lanes, from 2700 West and I-215, was put in place to improve traffic flow on 4700 South and help alleviate some of the past traffic issues there.

In addition, work continues on the development of the Mid-Valley Connector Bus Rapid Transit line, and the Taylorsville Active Communities Plan is working to better incorporate bicycles and pedestrians into transportation and recreational planning.

Public Safety

Taylorsville’s Police Department and the Unified Fire Authority firefighters and paramedics work continuously to keep our community safe and recently covered several high-profile incidents.

They also participate in and lead many community events each year. Among them, the Public Safety Committee hosts the city’s Night Out Against Crime, and TVPD has started a Cops and Pups event, a pet adoption fair that also collected donations for the Animal Shelter. In addition, TVPD claimed top honors in recent state and regional K-9 competitions.

Arts, Parks and Recreation

The city’s Starry Nights @the Plaza series was developed and now features the Food Truck League food trucks and other activities and entertainment every Friday night, from May to September. Dozens of Starry Nights events have been held since its inception.

Parks are also a significant focus, with planning underway for a new park at 6200 S. 3200 West, as well as enhanced amenities and substantial improvements at Taylorsville Park. Four new pickleball courts have already opened at the location of the new park, and courts have been added at Vista Park and the Senior Center — bringing 10 new courts in all, in addition to the two already at Millrace Park. The newly renovated Larry H. Miller Softball Complex in Taylorsville celebrated with a recent grand re-opening and hosts regular games and tournaments.

Additionally, the city is focused on water conservation. It even “flipped its own strip,” planting more than 120 waterwise plants in the center median along Centennial Boulevard thanks to a grant from Salt Lake County.

In this area of Arts, Parks & Recreation, the city’s Plaza +ART program also has brought dozens of beautiful sculptures to Centennial Plaza, and hosts free Evening of Art events, where artists speak about their work. The Taylorsville Arts Council can be counted upon to bring many fantastic shows to the community each year, as well as a vibrant Art Show showcasing local talent.

Thousands turn out each summer for Taylorsville Dayzz and its parade, 5K, carnival, concerts, car show and, of course, the best fireworks in the state! The annual Cleanup Day, sponsored by the Green Committee, collects literally tons of items for disposal and recycling, and the city's many star employees are recognized annually at the city's Awards Gala.

City leaders recently worked to keep the Taylorsville Food Pantry open following changes by the local nonprofit that had managed it previously. It remains in operation thanks to volunteers from Intermountain Baptist Church.

Also in this area, the Historic Preservation Committee has started hosting a Fall Festival, featuring a pumpkin patch, quilt show and other activities at the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center, and residents regularly turn out for the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Other community-building events include Trick-or-Treating on the Plaza, the Wreaths Across America ceremony, Saturday with Santa and the city’s holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony.

“We are thinking about what makes people want to live and be in Taylorsville,” said Council Member Curt Cochran. “The big picture is in the details.”

“It’s the little things that make a community,” echoed Council Member Meredith Harker. Mayor Overson agreed. “We are a team, working together,” she said. “We celebrate our strengths while working to make things even better.”