Hello Neighbor! Colten here.

Have you seen the sunset lately? Absolutely stunning. I couldn’t help but show off one picture I got above. Eagle Mountain might be a desert, but there’s so much beauty here.

Anyway, there’s some great stuff to cover here, so let’s jump into it.

Weather this weekend:

🚧 Construction alert: The 2100 North freeway project in Lehi broke ground yesterday. 2100 North stays open, but expect activity along the corridor.

📣 City note: Eagle Mountain residents are now eligible for Utah Water Savers landscape rebates. Apply while funding lasts.

📌 Key events next week: Planning Commission Tue 3/24, Special City Council Wed 3/25, Easter Egg Hunts Sat 3/28.

UDOT officially broke ground yesterday on a $621 million freeway connecting I-15 to the Mountain View Corridor along 2100 North in Lehi. This is the first east-west freeway in Utah County.

Here's what it means for Eagle Mountain: up to 12 fewer minutes in the car each direction during peak hours. For anyone commuting north toward I-15 or American Fork, that's kind of a big deal.

The project runs 2.8 miles through Lehi with three freeway lanes in each direction, 14 new bridges, two pedestrian bridges, and nearly two miles of shared-use paths. Construction is expected to wrap up by late 2028. The existing 2100 North lanes stay open throughout, since the freeway is being built in the grass median between the separated lanes.

And there's a future phase worth knowing about: a new freeway starting at Ranches Parkway right here in Eagle Mountain, connecting to the Mountain View Corridor and the 2100 North freeway without any stoplights. That one is expected as early as 2032.

If you want the bigger picture on the road construction reshaping our commute, we covered the full northern Utah County transportation plan in our February 23 issue.

More details: Eagle Mountain City coverage

Starting August 16, Eagle Mountain will be part of a new UTA on-demand transit zone. Think Uber or Lyft, but at transit prices.

Here's how it works: you request a ride through the UTA app, get picked up near your location, and ride to a destination, bus stop, or FrontRunner station. The zone covers about 77 square miles across Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, Lehi, and American Fork.

The basics:

Eagle Mountain has been a transit desert for a long time. This is the first on-demand service covering the city, and it directly solves the "last mile" problem residents have been talking about for years.

More details: Lehi Free Press coverage

Eagle Mountain residents are now eligible for the Utah Water Savers Landscape Incentive Program.

If you're planning any spring yard work, this is worth a look:

To apply, register at UtahWaterSavers.com, add your property, upload photos, and submit a landscape plan. A technician will visit before any work starts, and you then have one year from the site visit to finish the project.

Two things to know before you begin: Don't start any work before your inspection, or you won't qualify. And there's no hard deadline, but funding is first-come, first-served. If you're thinking about it, apply sooner rather than later.

The Planning Commission meets Tuesday at City Council Chambers (1650 E Stagecoach Run). Work session at 5:30 PM, policy session at 6:30 PM.

The full agenda hasn't been posted yet as of publication. When it goes live, you can view it on the CivicClerk portal. These meetings are open to the public and include time for residents to comment on items affecting local zoning and development.

A special City Council session is scheduled for Wednesday. No agenda has been posted yet, but special sessions typically signal significant city business. When the agenda is available, it will be on the CivicClerk portal.

No major community events this weekend (the Lamb of God performances at Cedar Valley High are sold out). But here's what to put on your calendar for next week.

All free, no registration required.

Youth and Adaptive Easter Egg Hunt | 10:00 AM Ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-9, and 10-12. Thousands of eggs (the city has put out 65,000 to 70,000 in past years). Bring your own basket. Easter Bunny photos and food trucks on site.

Teen Night Egg Hunt | 8:00 PM Ages 13-17. Bring a flashlight.

Where: Cory B. Wride Memorial Park, 5806 Pony Express Parkway

More details: Youth and Adaptive Hunts | Teen Hunt

A few tips from past years:

The eggs go fast. In past years, they've been picked clean in under a minute. The city recommends arriving by 9:40 AM, but veteran families suggest 9:15 to 9:30 to give yourself time to park, find restrooms, and get positioned at your child's age group section.

Bring a bag or tote instead of a traditional basket. Eggs roll out of baskets when kids run. A reusable tote, drawstring backpack, or even a pillowcase works better.

Dress in layers and closed-toe shoes. Morning temps will be in the upper 40s and the park is exposed, so wind matters. Skip the Easter outfit and go for comfort.

Dress kids in bright or neon colors so you can spot them in the crowd. For little ones (0-2), get right to the front of their age section and walk alongside them. For older kids, the edges and perimeter of the hunt area tend to have untouched eggs after the center gets swarmed.

For families attending the adaptive hunt: the paved area is designed for wheelchair and walker access. Arrive early so your child can get comfortable in the space before the crowd builds.

Haven Ranch Animal Sanctuary (5194 N Lake Mountain Rd) is hosting an Easter egg hunt this weekend and the next. Apparently, this weekend is almost full, so check out their Facebook page or call (801) 823-7223 for times, tickets, and what's included.

The Overland Community Boutique holds seasonal vendor markets at The Barn at Overland (1713 Erickson Knoll Ln). Their Spring Market is scheduled for March 27–28. Check their Facebook page for vendor info, times, and admission.

Free game night with a light dinner at the Eagle Mountain Senior Center (1632 E Heritage Drive), 5:00–6:00 pm. No registration is listed; see the city’s events page to confirm details before you go.

Two home varsity matchups this week at Cedar Valley High School (1389 E Aviator Ave). Come cheer on your Aviators.

Full schedule: cvaviators.com/events

Two Alpine School District music festivals hosted at Frontier Middle School (1427 Mid Valley Rd) next week. A great chance to support local student performers.

More info: Frontier Middle events page

A movement and sensory activity for toddlers and preschoolers with a "Baby Animals" theme. Free at Eagle Mountain Library (1650 E Stagecoach Run), 5:15 to 5:45 PM. Space is limited.

More info: City events page

Drop-in craft afternoon at Eagle Mountain Library (1650 E Stagecoach Run), 3:00 to 5:00 PM. Leprechaun-themed paper bag puppets. Free, all supplies provided. First come, first served.

More info: City events page

Mountain Trails Elementary (3951 N Wood Rd) is performing the children’s musical “Press Start” this week. Showtimes are March 19 and 20 at 6:00 pm, and March 21 at 1:00 pm, with tickets $5 per person (ages 3 and up), available through the school office by phone or in person. Learn more by visiting the school’s website.

If you want extra egg hunt options the same weekend:

Saratoga Springs | Patriot Park (444 E 400 S)

Lehi | Osier Park

The Valley Crossroads Chamber of Commerce (3688 E Campus Dr #101) is hosting a Nighttime Networking event on Thursday, March 26 from 6:00–8:00 pm for local business owners and professionals. Admission is free; see the event listing or call (385) 386‑3554 to confirm details and any updates.

S‑Tier BBQ is a new Eagle Mountain–based barbecue catering outfit specializing in slow‑smoked brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and homemade sides and desserts. Visit stierbbq.com to learn more, or visit their Facebook and Instagram pages.

Well, there you go! I hope this helps you better connect with your city and neighbors. If there are any local events you know of that I missed, please hit reply and let me know. I know for a fact there's more out there I haven't discovered yet.

And I’m excited to help you discover things too.

See you around,

— Colten