January 2026 | Vol. 12 Iss. 1
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West Valley City
67 years strong
Family-owned bowling alley keeps on rolling Page 4
Goodbye 2025
Some of our favorite photos from the past year
Page 12
WVC mayor excited about plans for the new year By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com West Valley Mayor Karen Lang reflects on 2025 and looks ahead to 2026.
“W
e’re growing like crazy, and the next year is really going to explode!” That’s the quote and feeling from West Valley CIty Mayor Karen Lang as 2025 drew to a close and 2026 awaits. Having just been reelected for a new term, Mayor Lang spoke with excitement and plenty of optimism about the next 12 months for Utah’s second largest city. “So many new businesses have opened this year—new hotels, businesses relocating here from other cities because they need more room to grow. We even have the largest Chick-fil-a in the area that opened by Valley Fair Mall. So many ribbon cuttings and grand openings–it’s been amazing.” Lang spoke with pride about the city’s industrial park area, where Nusano cut the ribbon on its state-of-the-art radioisotope production facility on Aug. 21. She sees that as just the first step in a medical business park and research park that rivals anything in the area. “The innovation they’ve got there is amazing,” she said. “It’s almost like something out of a Marvel movie. What they can do really blows by mind. And with all the supporting companies that are going to come in, that entire area will be a good business staple for our community.” Ground has been broken and construction is underway for a new University of Utah hospital along 5600 West, helping to meet the needs of what she calls an ever-growing community. While housing challenges remain for all cities along the Wasatch Front, Lang said both high density and single family homes are being built and are part of “a large inventory of housing” in West Valley City, including many that are affordable. “The city has changed dramatically since I was on the Planning Commission,” she said. “We have great bus service and TRAX, and we’re constantly working with UDOT, UTA and even the Wasatch Front Regional Council on infrastructure plans. As we look down the road at the 2034 Olympics, with many events happening here at the Maverik Center, we’re working to get funding and plans in place for the improvements needed. Eight years may sound like a long time down the road, but time goes quickly.” She’s particularly excited about the MyHometown project. West Valley City entered into an agreement with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to lease three former meetinghouses. The buildings will become full-time
community hubs as they have been officially decommissioned by the Salt Lake City-based faith. “We’re leasing them for two years, then the city will purchase them. The community hubs will be host sites for classes such as sewing and other programs run by the nonprofit MyHometown. Classes will be offered for free. Each of the buildings has a gym, and the Lighthouse Church borders a field that the city’s Parks and Recreation Department can use for its programs. “Within the next few years, we’ll continue to expand that program to the west, making MyHometown a staple, self-serving initiative. We want to build a sense of neighborhood and belonging and helping each other.” Parks are also part of the plan. Lang said this spring the city will release a commissioned study on the city’s parks, identifying a list of properties that could be developed and of some existing parks that need improvement. “With our new city manager (Ifo Pili, who joined the city in 2024) and other people who are new to the city, these changes have become top priorities. I think many exciting things will be announced this coming year.” As for her wish for everyone in 2026. “Be well and be safe,” she said. “Go out and meet your neighbors. Knowing those who live around us is the best way to start the new year.” l
Above: Mayor Lang spoke with excitement and plenty of optimism about the next 12 months for Utah’s second largest city. (Photo courtesy Karen Lang) Left: Lang spoke with pride about the city’s industrial park area, where Nusano cut the ribbon on its state-of-the-art radioisotope production facility on Aug. 21. (Darrell Kirby/ City Journals)