Murray City Downtown District • Utah Main Street Program

A downtown established in 1902 deserves a next hundred years.

The story of how a fourth generation Murray resident turned family heritage into a citywide revival, and won the state's recognition doing it.

1902Historic downtown established
2024District founded by Jenn
2026Spirit of Main Street Award
4thGeneration Murray founder

Murray's historic downtown was established in 1902, and Jenn Kikel-Lynn's family has been part of this city for four generations. When the historic heart of her hometown needed a champion, she did what she always does: she built the organization it needed.

Jenn founded the Murray City Downtown District and serves as its Volunteer Executive Director, connecting the district to the Utah Main Street program, the nationally affiliated framework that helps historic commercial districts revive, preserve, and thrive. The work spans the buildings, the businesses, and the story of downtown Murray, and it runs on the same conviction as everything else she builds: the community comes first.

In February 2026, that work was honored at the Utah Main Street Awards, where Jenn received the Spirit of Main Street Award as the district's Founder and Director. She also serves her city on the NeighborWorks Salt Lake Murray City Advisory Board, and she completed an intensive grant writing program in 2025 to strengthen the funding side of preservation work.

Some people move somewhere and sell houses. Jenn stayed home and built the town back.
The work

What the district does

Preserves

Championing the historic buildings and character that make downtown Murray irreplaceable, before they become memories.

Revives

Supporting the businesses and gathering places that bring life back to the district, through the Main Street framework that has revived downtowns nationwide.

Connects

Bringing residents, business owners, and the city together around a shared vision for the historic core's next century.

Rooted here

Love downtown Murray too? There is room in this work.

Whether you own a building, run a business, or just love this city's historic heart, reach out and get connected to the district.

Get connected