A Park City resident who works at a not-for-profit housing group has drafted a statement in opposition to a City Hall ballot measure designed to fund recreation improvements, arguing there are already strong recreation offerings in Park City and there are other needs in the community.
Megan McKenna is the housing advocate at Mountainlands Community Housing Trust and lives in restricted workforce housing at Park City Heights.
The statement will be posted online and read at a public meeting.
The statement points to the results of the wide-ranging National Community Survey, conducted on behalf of City Hall in late 2022 and early 2023, showing strong approval in response to recreation-related questions.
“The data reveals Park City excels in safety and recreation and falls short in affordability and transportation. The Council identified affordability/housing and transportation as critical priorities. Now is not the appropriate time to ask taxpayers to take on debt for recreation,” the McKenna statement says.
She outlines affordability-related issues in Park City, saying the survey found a low number of Parkites “ranked cost of living as good or excellent.”
“Affordability doesn’t affect everyone equally but the impacts are community-wide. To be a world-class destination, we must support the workforce that makes that possible,” she says in the statement.
She highlights the affordability-related issues of housing, child care, food and transportation.
“With limited resources, it is essential to prioritize critical needs which will have a more profound and immediate impact on residents and the overall sustainability of our community over additional recreational spending,” McKenna says.
The statement also says: “Taxpayers should not be asked to fund an already robust recreational program when critical needs are not being met. It’s essential to allocate resources thoughtfully to promote a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for all residents.”
McKenna, meanwhile, says the municipal government “should explore alternative funding sources for recreational improvements, such as public-private partnerships, grants, and user fees.”
The McKenna statement:
Prioritizing Critical Needs Over Recreation
In their March retreat, the City Council reviewed the 2022 National Community Survey results. The data reveals Park City excels in safety and recreation and falls short in affordability and transportation. The Council identified affordability/housing and transportation as critical priorities. Now is not the appropriate time to ask taxpayers to take on debt for recreation.
1. Recreational Strength Already Evident:
According to the survey, Park City already boasts a strong reputation for its recreational offerings. 95% of respondents ranked recreation opportunities as good or excellent. The community enjoys ample access to parks, 400 miles of trails, impressive recreational facilities, and 8,000 acres of open space. Park City provides world-class recreational opportunities and continues to allocate significant funds to recreation.
2. Critical Priorities:
The survey results underscore Park City’s most critical challenges. Only 12% of respondents ranked cost of living as good or excellent. The cost of living in Park City is 65% higher than the national average. Affordability doesn’t affect everyone equally but the impacts are community-wide. To be a world-class destination, we must support the workforce that makes that possible.
• Housing Affordability:The survey data highlights concerns about the escalating cost of housing. The average home in Park City is over $2M. Housing costs are 251% higher in Park City than the national average.
• Childcare:The survey suggests that the accessibility and affordability of childcare is also a major concern of residents. The Council’s one-time $1M contribution to childcare will go a long way but the problem is on-going.
• Food Affordability:Food affordability concerns, as revealed in the survey, indicate that some residents are struggling to meet their basic nutritional needs. 16.5% of PCSD students are eligible for free and reduced lunch and the CCPC has reported an increase in food pantry services.
• Transportation:With 9,000 of our 11,000 workforce commuting into Park City each day, the lack of affordable housing is also a traffic problem. Dissatisfaction with transportation options, including public transit and traffic congestion, indicates a need for substantial improvements to enhance mobility and reduce the city’s environmental footprint.
3. Exploring Alternative Funding Sources:
Instead of placing the burden of a recreation bond on taxpayers, the city should explore alternative funding sources for recreational improvements, such as public-private partnerships, grants, and user fees.
4. Allocating Resources Wisely:
With limited resources, it is essential to prioritize critical needs which will have a more profound and immediate impact on residents and the overall sustainability of our community over additional recreational spending.
It’s vital that our elected officials, when presented with evidence, respect the will of the community and allocate resources in a way that prioritizes our most urgent needs. The 2022 NCS results provide a compelling case against the G.O. bond. Taxpayers should not be asked to fund an already robust recreational program when critical needs are not being met. It’s essential to allocate resources thoughtfully to promote a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for all residents.