Eagle Mountain Earns Healthy Utah Community Designation!
Trails, farmers markets, the library, and a whole lot of community spirit helped the City earn a statewide health designation.
Eagle Mountain Named Healthy Utah Community
Here’s some news worth celebrating, Eagle Mountain: our city is officially a Healthy Utah Community! The designation comes from Get Healthy Utah in partnership with the Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT), and it recognizes cities that make the health of their residents a real priority.
The designation will be officially presented during an award ceremony on Tuesday, October 27, at the ULCT Annual Convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, and it’s valid for three years. It’s a big milestone for the ninth-fastest-growing city in the nation, and it reflects things many of you already enjoy every day, right here at home.
What it takes to earn it
To qualify, the City had to show its commitment in a few key ways. Mayor Jared Gray submitted a letter of commitment, the City organized a community health coalition, and staff documented the health strategies already making a difference in Eagle Mountain. The City also put together a three-year community health plan to keep the momentum going.
“Health is foundational to a high quality of life, and this designation reflects work that has been happening in Eagle Mountain for years,” said Mayor Jared Gray. “From our trails to our library to our Senior Center, we want every resident to have the opportunity to live well. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made together, and we’re committed to building on it.”
Get moving, Eagle Mountain
If you’ve laced up for the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, you’ve been part of this! The annual race brings thousands of neighbors together each year. The City also recently approved its Off-Street Trails Master Plan to maintain and grow our recreational trail system, and its Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan guides paved trails, crossings, and sidewalks.
For our youngest residents, every school in Eagle Mountain has a Safe Routes to School plan. The City works with the schools to find missing trail and sidewalk sections and budget to fill those gaps.
Good food
Your library card unlocks more than books. The Eagle Mountain Library offers a seed exchange with seeds for vegetables and other plantings, so you can grow something good in your own backyard. The library is also home to a community food pantry that has helped many residents in need and inspired a spirit of giving across the city.
And on Saturday mornings in the summer, the farmers market is the place to be. The City partners with a local group to host it, and the market accepts SNAP benefits.
Hope, connection, and a little encouragement
Eagle Mountain became the very first Believer City with the Show Me A Sign organization, and the Motivational Mile has quickly become a favorite tradition, with residents holding up signs of encouragement for passing travelers along our main thoroughfare.
The City also supports our recently expanded Senior Center with funding and staffing for lunches twice a week, bingo, painting, puzzles, and more. And as a reminder, free gun locks are always available at the library.
A team of neighbors
The Eagle Mountain Community Services Board serves as the City’s health coalition. The board meets monthly and includes residents along with representatives from Cedar Valley High School, the Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance, the Eagle Mountain Nature & Wildlife Alliance, Unified Fire Authority, the City Council, and City staff. Thank you for your time and your heart for this community!
What’s next
This designation isn’t a finish line. Over the next three years, the City’s community health plan focuses on:
- Mental health: A community campaign or event to reduce the stigma around mental illness.
- Active living: Trail wayfinding signs that show time and distance for routes, or a campaign that encourages residents to get moving.
- Inclusion and connection: Adaptive sports and recreation programs, or a recurring event that brings together residents who may have fewer chances to connect.
The City will also explore ideas like a community garden, new and expanded walking and biking trails, and spaces where neighbors can gather. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and we can’t wait to keep building a healthier Eagle Mountain together. See you on the trails!