Park City Councilor Tana Toly is traveling in Italy to learn about the staging of the Winter Olympics and has observed the atmosphere from how the Games are celebrated and the tradition of trading Olympic pins to the transportation systems in the Alps.
Toly said she wants Parkites to be involved in the Utah 2034 Games in a series of prepared responses to a Park Record inquiry about her experience in Italy.
“One idea I want to bring back is this: Make 2034 deeply personal. How do we ensure every resident feels connected to the Games? How does welcoming the world expand daily life for the people who live here?” she said.
Toly is traveling as part of the official delegation from the municipality and is participating in an observers program organized by the International Olympic Committee. She mentioned pins as she explained possibilities for Park City.
“At the Olympics, pin trading isn’t just a souvenir, it’s identity. It’s how people say, ‘This is who I am. This is where I’m from.’ It starts conversations. It builds connection. It’s how strangers become part of something bigger. What if we created a community-wide ‘Pin Project’ leading up to 2034?” she said. “We invite everyone to define their connection to Park City and the Olympics — and tell their story on a pin. When the world arrives, they won’t just see venues. They’ll see a community that knows who it is. 2034 belongs to all of us. What’s on your pin?”
Toly also addressed Main Street’s potential role during the Games, alluding to the pedestrianized celebration zone created on the street during the 2002 Winter Olympics and the role other spots could play. Toly is part of the family that owns Red Banjo Pizza on Main Street, and she has an extensive background in the shopping, dining and entertainment strip.
“We also need to talk about energy,” Toly said. “We need nightlife, athlete parades, community activations. Small business participation across the city, not just Main Street. In 2002, Park City had a fantastic vibe. There was pride, there was celebration, businesses felt involved and residents felt included. Let’s elevate that vibe.”
She indicated options regarding Main Street and the Games could be debated early in the broader talks about 2034.
“If Main Street is going to be a non-competitive venue again, we need to decide that ASAP. That decision affects security, programming, and how businesses prepare,” she said. “We did great in 2002. In 2034, we can take it to the next level.”
Toly also learned about transportation and infrastructure. She pointed to her observations in Cortina d’Ampezzo, an Alpine community hosting some of the competitions. Cortina d’Ampezzo has appeared to be of special interest to the Park City contingent in Italy since it is a mountain resort.
“Even with strict vehicle limits in Cortina proper, moving people was hard. Narrow roads. Venues spread out. Long travel times. You could feel the strain on the system,” she said, adding it took nine hours to travel between the airport and a destination outside of Cortina d’Ampezzo. “It reinforced what we already know in Park City, if we don’t build real alternatives to single occupancy cars, we will feel it during peak moments.”
Toly said certain infrastructure in Italy was not completed before the Games opened. Park City officials see a possibility of pursuing infrastructure projects prior to 2034, with the potential of monies flowing into the state in preparation for the Games.
“A planned gondola and park-and-ride weren’t ready in time, so (Italy) relied on backup plans and extra bussing. That creates stress and inefficiency,” she said. “That means we need strong regional and state, federal partnerships. It means deciding on a park-and-ride location this spring. And it means being honest about whether we’re serious about a gondola from Richardson Flat to Deer Valley and potentially to Main Street.”
Toly also provided a comment summarizing her opinions of Cortina d’Ampezzo, saying the greatest strength she observed is passion and place.
“In Cortina, a medieval mountain town, winter sport is woven into the culture. The stadiums are full and the athletes are celebrities. There’s a deep, visible respect for the Olympic spirit. At the same time, they are working within a historic town that has almost no ability to expand, no meaningful park-and-ride system, limited room for infrastructure, and narrow roads that can’t simply be widened. It’s beautiful, the venues are stunning, and the physical constraints are real,” Toly said.
She continued, “That contrast influences how I think about 2034. Park City is fortunate; we have space to plan smartly. We can build a park-and-ride. We can improve transit corridors. We can expand intentionally before pressure peaks. And like Cortina, winter sport is part of who we are. If we combine our passion for sport with proactive planning, 2034 won’t just look beautiful, it will function beautifully.”