Ivins Inspired

06/18/2026

Just want to take a moment to thank the Ivins Historical Society for sharing the photos and stories that capture the proud history of our city. Every post is a reminder of how much heart and heritage went into making Ivins the place we call home today.

I'm truly grateful for the work you do, and I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about our city's history because of you. 🙂

If you haven't already, join their Facebook group and follow along. It's worth it!

06/17/2026

📢 Update: Tonight's event has been postponed

We're sorry for the short notice, but tonight's pedestrian and bike safety community discussion at Heritage Park Pavilion has been postponed.

We're still committed to having this conversation with you. We're planning to bring everyone back together for a more formal event in late August or early September, in partnership with Ivins City and Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety, along with other community partners.

Have a suggestion, question, or idea in the meantime? Reach out anytime at [email protected].

Thank you for your patience and for caring about making Ivins safer for everyone. We'll share updated details as soon as we have them.

06/16/2026

We know this project has sparked some strong opinions — and that's exactly why we hope you'll join us this Wednesday.

Join us June 17, 9:30–10:30 a.m. to learn more about the new "Safety in Art" Roundabout on Center Street in Ivins and be part of the conversation about pedestrian safety in our community.

This is a true community success story — inspired by conversations following a crash involving a teenager on a scooter near Vista School, Ivins Inspired, Ivins City, and the Ivins City Arts Commission spent more than a year bringing this vision to life. The roundabout explores how art can calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety in a rapidly growing region where walkable streets matter more than ever.

Come with your questions, your concerns, and your ideas. Hear how the project came together, what we've learned, and what comes next. Every voice matters.

Register here 👇
https://www.conserveswu.org/events/strong-towns-meet-up-safety-in-art-roundabout-ivins/form?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2026-06-15&utm_campaign=Desert+Livability+Update+Ivins+Safety+in+Art+Roundabout

P.S. You may notice some tire marks on the art — we see it too and are already working on a fix! The roundabout is still new, and we're learning as we go. That's part of what this meetup is all about.

Arts Commission

06/08/2026

33 Ivins residents have spoken — have you?

So far, our AARP Age-Friendly survey tells us:
🐾 A dog park is one of the most-requested additions
✅ 90% of respondents feel safe in our parks and open spaces
🎾 More pickleball and tennis courts are high on the wish list
🥾 Expanding walking, hiking, and biking trails is a top priority
🎉 More programs for older adults AND youth and community events are in demand

And while you might associate AARP with seniors, the Age-Friendly Community initiative is for everyone — kids, families, young adults, and older residents alike. An age-friendly Ivins is a better Ivins for ALL of us. That's why we need voices from across the community!

The survey covers parks, trails, open spaces, buildings, and recreation programs — and takes just 5–7 minutes to complete. It's completely anonymous.

👉 Take it here: surveymonkey.com/r/GTRX6BN

Help shape the future of Ivins City's outdoor spaces and community facilities — your input matters!

Thank you!

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

06/02/2026

Join us this Thursday, June 4, from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM for the Ivins Community Celebration & Freedom 250 Experience.

We'll meet at 9:00 AM at the Icebox Grill stage for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new "Safety in Art" roundabout installation. This community-led pilot project uses public art as a traffic-calming tool to help increase driver awareness and create safer streets.

After the ribbon cutting, we'll take a short walk to the Freedom 250 Truck and Community Celebration area along the closed roadway between Veterans Park and the Southern Utah Veterans Home.

The event will feature community organization booths, an art activity, opportunities to learn more about the Ivins City Arts Commission's developing Arts Districts, and information about the Ivins City AARP Age-Friendly Community initiative. The Freedom 250 Truck will be open from 10:00 AM–5:00 PM on both June 4 and June 5.

If you're curious about the "Safety in Art" project, stop by and visit with the Ivins Inspired and Strong Towns WashCo teams. We'd be happy to answer questions, share the research behind the project, discuss what we've learned from other communities, and hear your thoughts.

We hope you'll join us as we celebrate a project that brings together public art, safety, and community connection.

05/25/2026

Join us on Thursday, June 4 for the Ivins Community Celebration & Freedom 250 Experience!

We’ll kick off the morning at 9:00 AM with the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new “Safety in Art” roundabout installation at Center Street & Red Mountain Blvd./200 W — a community-driven project using art to help slow traffic and create safer streets.

After the ribbon cutting, residents are invited to walk together to the Freedom 250 Truck and Community Celebration area along the closed roadway between Veterans Park and the Southern Utah Veterans Home. The event will include community organization booths, art activities, resident engagement opportunities, and opportunities to learn more about the Ivins City Arts Commission’s developing Arts Districts, along with the Ivins City AARP Age-Friendly Community initiative.

The Freedom 250 Truck experience will also be open to the public from 10:00 AM–5:00 PM on both June 4 and 5.

Come celebrate creativity, community connection, and the future of placemaking in Ivins!

05/19/2026

RSQ needs you! There are a variety of volunteer roles and days/times. Go to their website to learn more and fill out volunteer application.

We are looking for awesome people to join our team! 🐶🐱🐾

We have volunteer opportunities to work with daily animal care, fundraising with our Garage sales or helping with events in our community! We are also building our TNR team and can use help weekly for that. 😸

We need volunteers for morning and evening shifts at RSQ every single day of the year. 🐾

Apply through our website
rsqutah.org

05/04/2026

Happening at Kayenta Center for the Arts—
The final Voyager Lecture of the season is coming up, and it’s focused on something a lot of us are trying to get better at… slowing down and being a little more present.

Train the Mind, Open the Heart brings together three local experts from the Mindfulness Center of Southern Utah to talk about what mindfulness actually looks like in real life—and why it matters.

They’ll touch on the science behind it, but also how it can help with things we all deal with: stress, focus, health, and staying connected to the people around us.

There’s also a guided, interactive piece, so you won’t just sit and listen—you’ll get to try a few simple practices you can take with you.

📍 Lorraine Boccardo Theater
📅 Tuesday, May 26
🕢 Lecture at 7:30 PM | Social hour at 6:30 PM

If you’ve been curious about mindfulness—or just want a different kind of evening out—this is a good one.

🎟️ Tickets: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36972/production/1274669?performanceId=11804068

05/01/2026

Love seeing new things happening in Ivins! 👇

The IceBox Grill is hosting their first live music night on their new patio stage this Saturday—and it looks like a great lineup.

Heidi Anderson + Christian Erickson
Jazz, Blues & Soul
Saturday, May 2
6:30–9:00 PM
No cover

If you’re around, it’d be great to get a good crowd out there and support them for their first show.

📍 27 N 200 E

04/27/2026

This is what community looks like.

We’re still smiling thinking about last week’s Strong Towns event with Chuck Marohn.

It was a full room—residents, County Commissioners Gil Almquist and Victor Iverson, mayors, city council members, and nonprofit and business leaders—but what stood out most was how people showed up.

Curious. Thoughtful. Willing to listen.
Some longtime Strong Towns followers. Some just learning. Some asking hard questions.

That’s exactly what made it meaningful.

Because we’re seeing a lot of change across southern Utah—and “growth” can be a loaded word. So instead of getting stuck there, we’re asking a better question:

How do we move forward in a way that actually makes our communities stronger?

Ivins Inspired is proud to be part of the Strong Towns WashCo Coalition—and proud of this community for showing up the way it did.

We’re just getting started.

Thank you to the sponsors who made this possible:
Tech Ridge, Dixie Technical College, Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance, The Workflow Academy, Conserve Southwest Utah, Kayenta Development, Ivins City, Ivins Inspired, Southern Utah Home Builders Association, and Studio 13.