Ogden City approves mural ahead of 2034 Olympics

OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — Ogden officials have approved a proposal for a mural ahead of the 2034 winter Olympics, estimated to cost $210,000.

In a recent city council meeting, Ogden City Officials voted to approve a public art project. The goal of the project is to design and install a mural.

According to the proposal, “the mural will celebrate Utah’s 2034 Winter Olympics, and is
intended to beautify downtown, promote community pride, and attract residents and visitors.
Installation is planned for spring 2026, with a ribbon-cutting in late spring or early summer.”

Initial estimates state that the project will take $210,000 to complete, and it will be funded through both public and private contributions.

Of that total, the Ogden City Council voted to approve allocating $110,000 from Ogden’s public art fund. This will go to the creation of the mural and lighting in the area. An additional $62,500 will come from Weber County RAMP funds.

The MarketStar Foundation has provided $15,000 in-kind support for the mural location, which will be located on the Kiesel Avenue parking structure and connect the Junction District and Historic 25th Street in Ogden.

Courtesy: Ogden City Public Arts

Visit Ogden and Snowbasin have also pledged $10,000 each, and the MarketStar Foundation has pledged $2,500, though this funding hasn’t been finalized. Some of the $110,000 allocated from the public art fund will be used if that funding does not go through.

And while the mural is intended to celebrate the upcoming 2034 Olympics in Salt Lake City, its sponsors hope it will become a community landmark.

“This mural will not only beautify downtown Ogden but also amplify community pride, attracting both global visitors and tourists,” The proposal reads. “The design will celebrate the Olympic spirit, showcase Utah’s stunning natural landscapes, and reflect the rich cultural history of the county. By doing so, it will become a must-visit landmark, drawing travelers and residents alike for photos and social media posts.”

According to Lorie Buckley, the Arts Administrator for Ogden City, the next step in the project will be asking for interested and qualified muralists to apply, which should happen within the next month.

Public Comment

Notably, the proposed parking garage where the mural will be painted does not currently have a sidewalk or pedestrian area. Several City Council members and public attendees raised concerns about this issue.

A city councilmember noted that it could be difficult to make the parking garage safe in a high-traffic situation, “as far as making [it] an ‘Instagrammable’ location and for the safety of people traveling through this area.”

“There is no place to stand. It doesn’t seem like a safe location for this idea, not that it isn’t a good idea,” one public commentator said.

According to Lorie Buckley, this is an area of concern that could be further addressed.

“I think it would be something to heavily consider, because now it will be something that people walk up to,” She said, “We do have a lot of pedestrians coming out of there after they are parking, and it could be something the city could consider looking into.”

However, considering the size of the parking garage and area with the mural, Buckley mentioned, the mural will end up being more photogenic from across the street.