Midway has until Dec. 14 to commit a $600,000 federal grant to its long-planned town square revitalization, or forfeit the money.

City Planner Michael Henker presented the deadline to the council at its July 22 work session. The Rural Communities Opportunity Grant, secured in 2024 through Utah's Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, carries a contract termination date of Dec. 14, 2026. The grant also requires $1,792,000 in matching funds from the city, putting the total project commitment at $2.39 million.

Henker told the council a six-month extension might be available but urged a decision before the contract deadline, according to the Park Record.

"The idea was thought up that we should look at our town square, make it more of a gathering place for Midway," Henker told the council on July 22. "That was written into our General Plan, and so we were following through on following that vision."

Council members agreed at the meeting that the revitalization is overdue but have not decided which phase to tackle first or whether to commit the grant funds. No vote was taken.

Grant writer Nancy O'Toole helped Midway secure the funding, according to the Park Record.

The square at the center of town life

The town square hosts Swiss Days, Fourth of July celebrations, the Plein Air Artists Festival, and a Christmas tree lighting. Its open-air ice rink hosted the Park City Pioneers' inaugural Winter Classic in February 2026. The Park Record reports that Midway leaders call the square the "living room of the city."

The revitalization plan dates to 2021, when the city hired IBI Group for public outreach and concept design. After two open houses attended by about 60 people, 38 written comments, and 27 emails, IBI delivered a five-phase master plan in March 2022.

Five phases, one deadline

The phases include a southern promenade and ice rink plaza resurfacing, a multipurpose pavilion and barbecue pit with new crosswalks, an event plaza with a water feature, a memorial grove and event patio, and a western promenade with a "town square lodge" and enchanted forest. The plan would also reduce parking from 148 spaces to 110 by replacing internal driveways with pedestrian walkways.

The city has not announced a date for a follow-up vote. Residents can watch for the item to return to a future council agenda at midwaycityut.gov.