On October 16, residents of Payson and surrounding areas gathered to celebrate the official grand opening of their beloved Historic Main Street. The project, which officially began in January of 2024, finally came to a highly anticipated close amidst cheers and festivity. Residents celebrated with a block party, car show, parade, and ribbon cutting.
Brian Hulet, a Payson City Councilman and a crucial driver behind the revitalization of Historic Main Street, explained that the project has been in the works longer than many people realize, adding that he has been working on it since he moved to Payson 23 years ago.
Unfortunately, the project couldn’t get off to a start back then because, as Hulet explained, there was “18 inches of concrete underneath the old asphalt,” adding that there was a “100-year-old infrastructure under there.”
While the project was a priority, it took several years for the state to allocate funding to it.
“(The state) gave this road to us in 1932, I think, so we went to them and finally got them to put in some money, and then we added money in to do the streetscape,” he said.
The newly paved street, beautiful landscaping, and delightful stream all add a touch of modern flair and visual interest to the area. But don’t let all the “new” stuff fool you. Historic Main Street still has a nostalgic hometown feel that’s undeniable.
Like a classic movie brought back to life through meticulous professional restoration, Historic Main Street is simply an improved version of what it once was. It’s now brighter, newer, more attractive, and more welcoming. One need only meander through the familiar shops and mingle among the friendly “Paysonites” to feel right at home.
Morganson Custom Frames and Sew Forth, owned by Rebecca and Kelly Morganson, is one of the familiar shops that still welcomes visitors on Payson Historic Main Street. The Morgansons currently live in West Mountain but were born in Payson and still consider themselves “Paysonites.” Kelly Morganson explained that their quaint frame and quilt shop has been on Payson Main Street for 25 years.
The Morgansons expressed their excitement that Main Street is now open again. That being said, the growing pains related to the construction phase of the project were difficult for many Main Street business owners to endure, including the Morgansons.
“It wasn’t easy, but we had faithful customers who went out of their way to make sure they came,” Kelly said. “Thank you. Please come and see us.”
It’s not just Payson residents who appreciate the new and improved Main Street. Jennifer and Brad Starkweather are residents of Santaquin who came to the ribbon-cutting event. Their daughter, Abigaile, marched with the band in the grand opening parade and they came to support her. Brad expressed his enthusiasm for the improved Main Street atmosphere.
“It’s more homey and has more of that hometown feel,” Brad said. “It was getting kind of rundown and beat up a little bit. The stream is a really nice improvement.
The stream, in fact, is one of the most notable features of the new and improved Main Street. Lined with contrasting light-colored rocks and dark-colored mulch, it’s a stunning and unique focal point. With the original Peteetneet Creek having gone down through Main, it was important to include the stream to pay homage to that and to set Payson Main from other Main Streets.
“Our historic downtown is going to be the heart and soul and the gathering place of Payson as we grow,” Hulet explained, “It’s going to have that hometown feel that we really want. We did a survey a little while ago, and people want that hometown feel. This is going to be it, right here.”
If you haven’t seen the newly reopened Historic Main Street yet, consider bringing your family and stopping by. If you have the time, support the resilient shops and restaurants lining the street. Those businesses have made it through some tough months of construction and could now use extra public support to help them recover.
