The City of Driggs has finished construction on the newest addition to its downtown — a pocket park.
In what was previously a lumber yard, this new outdoor space will provide a venue for events, outdoor seating and a place for community activities.
The city received a Gem Grant this year totaling $31,500 to help convert the space into a park.
The grant helped fund the demolition of structures on the site, grading and adding compacted fine-crushed gravel to the space.
According to Doug Self, Community Development Director and Deputy City Administrator for the City of Driggs, this new pop-up park has elevated the city’s downtown area, providing the final touch on an attractive new pedestrian-oriented shopping district in Driggs.
The project also benefits 12 new adjacent businesses, including four in city-managed business incubator spaces.
Self said the project will continue to provide benefit to surrounding businesses due to increased foot traffic and will also serve as an additional public gathering space, improving overall quality of life and community engagement.
“The Gem Grant allows cities to get creative in their strategies for growing jobs and their economies and is a critical resource for pushing projects forward that are missing that last bit of funding,” Self said. “The ease of getting quick feedback on potential projects, the simplicity of the application process and the multiple
windows to apply are big parts of what makes the Gem Grant shine to me.”
This story was reposted from the FY2025 Annual Report. Read the full report here.