Foot Hills in Provo in Utah County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Recreation Center-Utah State Hospital
Utah Historic Site
National Register of Historic Places
Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 31, 2026
1. Recreation Center-Utah State Hospital Marker
Inscription.
Recreation Center-Utah State Hospital. Utah Historic Site. Built in 1936-37, the Recreation Center at the Utah State Hospital is one of over 230 public works buildings constructed in Utah under various New Deal programs during the Depression years of the 1930s and 40s. The construction of public works buildings, of which only 130 are extant and well preserved, not only offered temporary work relief, but also provided long-term benefits in the form of improved facilities for a variety of local public programs. The types of buildings constructed included public schools, county courthouses, city halls, libraries, National Guard armories, and a variety of others. Plans for the Recreation Center were worked up by Lavar S. Morris, professor in landscape architecture at BYU, who also supervised the construction by WPA workers. The center was to be the nucleus of an extensive recreational area for patients at the hospital, but the creation of such a facility never advanced beyond the completion of this structure.
Built in 1936-37, the Recreation Center at the Utah State Hospital is one
of over 230 public works buildings constructed in Utah under various
New Deal programs during the Depression years of the 1930s and 40s.
The construction of public works buildings, of which only 130 are
extant and well preserved, not only offered temporary work relief, but
also provided long-term benefits in the form of improved facilities for a
variety of local public programs. The types of buildings constructed
included public schools, county courthouses, city halls, libraries,
National Guard armories, and a variety of others. Plans for the
Recreation Center were worked up by Lavar S. Morris, professor in
landscape architecture at BYU, who also supervised the construction by
WPA workers. The center was to be the nucleus of an extensive
recreational area for patients at the hospital, but the creation of such a
facility never advanced beyond the completion of this structure.
Erected 1987 by Utah Division of State History. (Marker Number N-925.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work
Location. 40° 14.062′ N, 111° 37.887′ W. Marker is in Provo, Utah, in Utah County. It is in Foot Hills. It can be reached from East Center Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1300 E Center St, Provo UT 84606, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Wasatch Front. It is also in the American Mountain West and in Colorado Plateau. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2026, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 2, 2026, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
