SYRACUSE -- High hopes abound these days in Syracuse. The city is one of the fastest growing in the state, and that's just residential growth. Now, to accommodate all the newcomers to the Great Salt Lake's neighbor, Syracuse has some grand plans for business expansion and development. "There are a few things that we're really proud that we've done in the past year. On the corner of 2000 West and Antelope Drive, by fall 2006, we should have our first shops in the new town center along with a new Wal-Mart. Those businesses will usher in a new era here in Syracuse," Mayor Fred Panucci said. The business aspect of Syracuse's growth is just one of the bright spots for this town, though.

There is a new Davis County high school currently being built to go along with the new community center and Jensen Park that are slated to be done also in the fall of 2006.

Jensen Park is a planned 82-acre park that is located on Bluff Road that "connects" cities as far south as Layton all the way up through West Point and Clinton.

The plan is to have 22 of those acres ready in the fall. Funding is already in place for the park's completion in the upcoming couple of years.

Jensen Park is designed to be one of the largest parks in the entire state. It's anticipated that the Heritage Days parade and fireworks show for the city at the end of every June could potentially end up there.

The Community Center is truly a center for the community in every sense of the word.

There will be volleyball courts outside the center along with a gym, reception room and senior citizen activities inside the building. The facility will serve a purpose for every Syracuse resident, city officials believe.

Another one of the big building projects has been the extensive trail system throughout the city. Currently there are two more trail system additions on the 2006 construction docket that will add approximately 2.5-3 miles of trail to the city.

The main thing that Panucci is excited about is all the government funding in the form of grants that the city has received for these projects. So far, Syracuse has received more than $2 million worth of federal grants.

"We have a lobbying firm we use in Washington, D.C. that has aided us in our cause. I've given presentations to Senator Hatch, Senator Bennett and Congressman Bishop.

"We've received over $700,000 for the park, over $500,000 for the community center and over $1.1 million for the trail system. We couldn't have done any of these improvements without that federal aid," Panucci said.

The new Wal-Mart and shops are definitely going to add some much-needed business revenue to Syracuse. Added also will be bumper-to-bumper traffic. The town center will be located where Antelope Drive is reduced to one lane each way, and the changes that may be needed for traffic on Antelope Drive are also being studied and addressed by city officials.

"We're definitely heading into a year of change in 2006," said Panucci, adding that the changes are exciting.