Provo Mayor John Curtis honored as the Freedom Festival Grand Marshal
Provo Mayor John Curtis makes his way through the parade route during the Freedom Festival Grand Parade on Monday, July 4, 2016. The parade is the largest of its kind in Utah and attracts thousands to Provo every year to celebrate the Fourth of July. SAMMY JO HESTER, Daily Herald
Provo Mayor John Curtis, State Senator John Valentine (R - Orem), Ginger Woolley, of the Rock Canyon Preservation Alliance, and Sparky Davis, right, chat after a press conference at the Zions Bank building in Provo on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. Mayor Curtis announced that the city will be purchasing 80 acres of land in Rock Canyon, ending a multi-decade land dispute and ensuring the preservation of the canyon. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Mayor John Curtis’ announcement in November that he would not be seeking a third term in office seemed surprising for a mayor who held a 93 percent approval rating over the last several years of his tenure. He said it was an emotional decision, but that it was time for him to be done, keeping a promise to his constituents that he wouldn’t stay too long.
With his eight-year run coming to an end, America’s Freedom Festival leadership decided that now was the right time to honor Curtis for his service to the city and the growth that he’s spearheaded.
“It’s an opportunity to say thank to John,” said Paul Warner, executive director of America’s Freedom Festival. “He’s popular, he’s well-known, and he’s contributed so much to Provo. The people have appreciated his good work and action that has made so many good things happen in this city.
Provo’s landscape has changed dramatically in the eight years since Curtis took office. When he first arrived, he was faced with a bottomed-out economy, police scandals, city fires and issues with the city’s iProvo fiber network.
Now, the city is enjoying the greatest economic development in its history. The downtown area, which once seemed more like a ghost town as business scraped for customers, is flourishing. The arts have grown within the city, supported by galleries, art walks, and rooftop concerts, and key players in the community have been identified to help keep them growing.
The city has become a hub for technology start-ups, even attracting a major player in Google as they selected Provo as a pilot city for their Fiber internet service.
Provo’s natural beauty has also been preserved during Curtis’ time as mayor when he announced that 80 acres of Rock Canyon would be purchased by the city, protecting it from mining and other disturbances, and protecting it for generations to come.
Curtis’ efforts to help the city stretch and grow have been well-documented, guiding it towards a new future while working to preserve the history that came before by supporting traditions that have already been in place.
“Mayor Curtis has been a fabulous support for the festival,” said Shauna Ogden, who sits on the executive board of America’s Freedom Festival. “He’s very engaged, making sure that things are going well. It’s a good partnership, which helps the community.”
Curtis receiving this honor is also, by extension, a way for the festival to recognize the team that the mayor has behind him, and the many other citizens who work and volunteer to help move the city forward. While Curtis has been the face of many of these changes and improvements, he’s the first to recognize the tremendous efforts made by the people who work to make those changes happen.
The award also serves to thank Provo City as a whole for the many years that it has served as a host to the festival.
“We hope it means our government is based on doing things that help, and do things right, and to thank those who are willing to jump in and make those decisions and be involved,” said Ogden.
Curtis will be honored as the grand marshal throughout the festival, and the committee members hope his legacy will be remembered long after that as the city continues towards greatness.