I’m writing in response to complaints about Nordic ski grooming at Park City Golf Course. It’s frustrating to see such a wonderful recreation area come under fire simply because a homeowner finds it inconvenient.
White Pine Touring does an excellent job maintaining high-quality Nordic ski trails that benefit the entire community. The Park City Golf Course is a public space, and in the winter, it transforms into an incredible resource for recreation.
Complaints about early morning grooming noise or usage of the area for a recreational activity ignore the fact that these trails serve countless residents and visitors who rely on them for outdoor activity.
It’s also worth noting the irony here: During the summer, the golf course mows grass constantly, uses heavy equipment, and allows far more people onto the space than Nordic skiing ever does. Nordic skiers don’t slice their Pro V1’s into people’s patios and windows. We never hear of people living in ski in/out residences complaining about the slopes behind their homes being groomed.
If anything, golf operations are significantly more disruptive than a quiet ski trail. Do we hear grievances about that? Living next to a golf course means accepting that it is a shared space — golfers in the summer, skiers in the winter. Expecting special treatment because of personal property interests undermines what makes Park City such a great place to live: its dedication to outdoor recreation and accessibility for all.
I urge the city to continue supporting White Pine Touring’s efforts and to prioritize the greater good over individual homeowner grievances. The Nordic center has done a tremendous job this winter with their new snow cat, and despite some challenging conditions, to produce wonderful Nordic skiing.
Let’s keep these trails open, consistently well-groomed, and available to the community.
Rob Aldrich
Park City