Returning from City Tour 26 with this year’s Park City Leadership class in Vail and Breckenridge, I was energized by the opportunity to see first hand how other mountain communities tackle shared challenges.
Take this intriguing idea from Vail and Breckenridge. It’s called the 106 West Logistics “last mile” delivery model. Large trucks unload goods at a centralized facility outside the business district, while smaller SUV-sized electric vehicles make deliveries to retailers and collect returns (and potentially trash, recyclables and compost). The result is fewer heavy trucks on local streets, reduced emissions, and safer, more pedestrian-friendly commercial areas (and potentially higher rates of recycling).
We immediately recognized potential applications for Main Street and Kimball Junction. A Park City model would require extensive business input and careful operational planning, but the potential is there.
The Breckenridge Sol Center, a nonprofit hub and food pantry model, offered another compelling idea for Park City, where our nonprofits are essential to community well-being. The Sol Center features co-located services with low-barrier access, culturally responsive options, bilingual support, and appointment systems that maximize impact in a welcoming, respectful environment.
Elements of this approach might improve outcomes and consolidate some costs in Park City and Summit County, where we value both compassion and efficiency.
Breckenridge also offers an exciting vision for supporting the arts as a four-season economic driver. BreckCreate is a nonprofit arts council, supported by the town, managing multiple facilities and programs in the Breckenridge Arts District with galleries, exhibitions, classes and artist-in-residence programs.
The Leadership team admired how BreckCreate integrates arts and culture into year-round daily life. In Park City, where our vibrant arts scene is also visible and civically engaged, Breckenridge-style partnerships have potential.
Of course, Parkites emphatically consider our culinary life an art form as well as a four-season economic driver. We are building on that authenticity with the Netflix Chef’s Table event in August, presented by American Express and Resy, when 70 internationally acclaimed chefs will collaborate with local talent for a high-end, immersive festival with interactive demonstrations, “day in the life” experiences with top chefs, and intimate dinners at 100 events across 20+ local restaurants.
Housing was a recurring topic throughout City Tour 26. Colorado communities are testing practical approaches, including centralized listing platforms that make workforce and affordable housing easier to find.
Vail’s thoughtful embrace of AI is enhancing efficiency, such as pragmatically using technology to manage landscape mowing and Zamboni-style equipment. Rather than viewing these tools as replacing workers, our conversations focused on using AI to help businesses maintain high service levels in an era of chronic staffing shortages. Privacy, governance and other ethical implications must be worked through if communities are to consider deploying AI in ways that benefit everyone.
There was much else to see and discuss, such as improving school-based mental health services and improving economic collaboration at all levels. Not every idea we encountered transfers directly, but studying them clarifies our own priorities.
Above all, I observed the human value of these tours: Leadership Park City builds bonds among emerging leaders. When future challenges arise, participants can draw on already existing relationships to bring people together and find solutions.
That alone made City Tour 2026 well spent.
Jennifer Wesselhoff is the president and CEO of the Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.