The Local: Heber Valley Community News from KPCW, January 2026
This New Year, resolve to stay connected to the place you call home. KPCW keeps Summit and Wasatch counties informed and engaged, from local news and community voices to nonprofit partners and the music you love.
We’ve hand-selected recent stories that capture the energy of our vibrant, eclectic and deeply-engaged community. Read—and listen—like a local at KPCW.org.
Heber City approves contract for next phase of downtown park transformation
By Grace Doerfler
Heber City has launched the next stage of its plan to renovate Main Street park.
The City Council has hired a contractor to draft specific design plans for the reimagined park’s features. The design firm Terracon will develop three concepts with a range of sizes for buildings and amenities.
The plans would also include cost estimates.
The council is expected to get its first look at the designs in late January. A series of public meetings will follow in February so locals can provide feedback.
A final design is expected to be presented to the city council for consideration in March.
This phase comes more than a year after an urban planning consultant proposed the city turn the park into “the most awesome square” in the country. It includes opportunities for ice skating in winter, a splash pad for summer, families activities and pop-up spaces for small businesses.
Planned Wasatch County school to fill service gap for adults with disabilities
By Grace Doerfler
Wasatch County may soon have a place where adults with cognitive disabilities can continue learning after they finish public school.
The Aspen Center for Learning would accommodate up to 80 students, including housing for eight students.
The plan for the center is being developed by local families with adult children and siblings who can no longer access educational programs or other resources through the public school system.
J.W. Davies, whose son has Down syndrome, is driving the effort to raise building funds. He says $11 million is needed; so far, $3 million has been raised.
Shana Mendenhall’s family, which owns Lake Creek Homes, is donating general contracting for the school. She says the center would help her 45-year-old sister thrive.
The plans for the center would include classrooms, a kitchen, a gym and some housing, along with Special Olympics opportunities.
Heber City seeks compromise for airport hangar leases
By Grace Doerfler
Local leaders are working to revise rental hangar contracts at the Heber Valley Airport after a dispute with leaseholders.
The disagreement arose as some hangar contracts were set to renew or expire late last year. City staff said there was no record that the city had adopted a standard rental contract and opinions differed about how they should be handled.
Councilmembers held a special meeting with the Airport Advisory Board to work out the details. The board asked the council for several changes, including increasing the lease length from five years to 20. They also said current leaseholders should be able to renew with the existing form.
The council approved some of the AAB’s requests and extended current leases through March 31.
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