'A phenomenal achievement': Ogden's 25th Street places 3rd in Best Main Street contest

OGDEN — Ogden's Historic 25th Street placed third in a national readers' poll of best main streets across the country.

The finish left city boosters beaming, even if Ogden didn't get the top spot.

"Securing third place in this competition is a phenomenal achievement for our city. It reflects the hard work and passion of our community in preserving the unique character and welcoming atmosphere of 25th Street," said Taylor Hartman, director of marketing for Visit Ogden, which promotes tourism in Weber County.

Historic 25th Street is home to numerous restaurants, bars and stores and is Ogden's highest-profile dining and commercial corridor. Boosters had pushed hard for the public to vote for the corridor in the contest.

USA Today, the national newspaper, oversaw the competition, which featured 20 main streets across the country. Taking top honors was Grand River Avenue in Howell, Michigan, followed by Commercial Street in Emporia, Kansas. Rounding out the top five were DeLand, Florida, and McMinnville, Oregon.

The streets finishing in the top 10, USA Today said in announcing them on Wednesday, "are living history, have a vibrant culture and serve as the hearts of their communities." The publication noted the opening of Union Station at the western end of Historic 25th Street in Ogden 1869, giving rise to its future development.

"Today the stretch of road welcomes more than a million visitors each year, who come for the art galleries, restaurants, shopping and historic attractions," USA Today said.

Ogden officials put a big focus on promoting and maintaining Historic 25th Street, the segment of the street between Wall Avenue and Washington Boulevard. At its western end sits Union Station, home to a railroad museum, with the Ogden Amphitheater, home to the Ogden Twilight music series each summer, on its eastern end. It's frequently closed to autos for street festivals and events.

City leaders are in the midst of ambitious plans to redevelop the area surrounding Historic 25th Street and bolster arts offerings around the city center to augment the city's drawing power. The finish in the USA Today contest, Visit Ogden said, helps bolster the city's "reputation as a top destination for both visitors and residents looking to experience the best of what Utah has to offer."

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