MANTI—Manti City is getting ready to reconstruct the landscaping and water feature on the northeast corner of Main and Union that was installed in 2006 as part of a Main Street beautification project.
The current configuration is a case of trying to fit too much in a small space, Cory Hatch, public works director, told the Manti City Council on Sept. 22.
“They put a lot of trees in there, they grew, branched out, (and) covered parking spaces” in Manti Market parking lot, Hatch said. “It looked beautiful for years, but it’s kind of gotten to where it’s overgrown and tough to keep up.”
The rebuild will occur alongside reconstruction of the Manti Market parking lot scheduled during October.
Tyler Merrill, store owner, said the parking lot project includes widening the entrance from Union Street into the store and scraping the rest of the lot, which is sinking in places. New asphalt will be laid and lighting added, he said.
Hatch said the design for the corner isn’t concrete yet, but his feeling is “the simpler, the better.”
He said he envisions the water feature being in front of a short wall, which would separate the city space from the parking lot. A plaque containing some kind of memorial or possibly city history information could be posted on the wall.
He suggested minimal vegetation, pavers, benches and lighting, but enough open space that a Christmas tree could be placed there during the Christmas season. The tree wouldn’t be as big as the tree at the north entrance to town, he said, but could provide some decor in the center of the city.
City Manager Kent Barton suggested including a pedestal for a flowerpot to tie in with other flowerpots lining Main Street during the summer.
Other possibilities include a city sign somewhere on the corner and posting flags at different times for different events.
Hatch said the project would not be costly because the city staff would do the work using what is now on the corner, plus other items and supplies the city has on hand.
