Ask anyone who lives here why they love Park City, and they’ll likely point to some combination of our world-class resorts, colorful history, and vibrant local culture.

Perhaps most importantly, Park City is a one-of-a-kind community. Our city is home to engaged and fiercely loyal locals who want to preserve our city’s charm and quality of life — and rightfully so — while also welcoming visitors from around the world. As leaders, the City Council and I are committed to balancing these core values as we keep Park City moving forward toward a brighter future.

Of course, we know all too well that the path to realizing that future is not always easy. Over the years, we have frequently struggled to balance Park City’s role as a destination — including the increased traffic and congestion, burdens on our resources and infrastructure, rising cost of living, and other challenges to our quality of life — with our duty to preserve the unique character that has made this community feel like home to so many for so long.

But I have an important reminder for us all: This is not an either/or choice.

To chart a course that leads to our desired destination, we can and must do both. That means embracing a sensible approach to resort growth and development that thoughtfully balances the demands of maintaining Park City’s place as a global leader in recreation, culture, and hospitality with their impact on the lives of our residents.

In that spirit, I recently announced a long-awaited partnership proposal with Deer Valley to reimagine the Snow Park base area. If the council agrees to vacate the right of way and the Planning Commission subsequently approves a master plan development, the project proposes converting a parking lot that sits empty for most of the year into a modern ski village that will enrich the Park City experience for both residents and our visitors. Our partnership will also help mitigate some of the downstream effects that could impact the surrounding area.

I know this has been a long road. Since the question of the road vacation was first referred to us in January, the council and I worked to facilitate a transparent and inclusive process. We’ve held numerous public meetings and received countless comments from every corner of our city as we worked to ensure everyone had the opportunity to share their perspectives.

Your voices were heard loud and clear.

Guided by what we heard, we fought for and secured key concessions that will produce a better long-term outcome. For example:

• Partnership: As part of this new partnership, Deer Valley will provide $15 million to expand regional transportation infrastructure and alleviate congestion within city limits.
• Mitigation: To further mitigate the impact of the proposed development on the surrounding area, Deer Valley will reduce day-skier parking spaces on site by 20% to reduce vehicle traffic during peak times.
• Integration: Deer Valley will build an integrated gondola network to connect Snow Park Village to the Mayflower base area. This will distribute resort access more efficiently across the mountain, thereby reducing crowding at key entry points and diverting some traffic and parking away from Park City.

We are excited about these achievements, and the council and I look forward to hearing additional community input at our upcoming meetings on Dec. 5 and 14. If approved, the Planning Commission can retake the reins and continue their work to vet the project application and engage with the community as the process moves forward.

We will undoubtedly encounter more growing pains as Park City changes and evolves in the years ahead, but there is one thing of which I am certain: Together, our community will continue to rise above the challenges that come with our success.

Particularly as we prepare to host another Olympic Games, it is essential that we use the next decade as a springboard to what we want Park City to be in 2034 and beyond.

This partnership is only one step on our collective journey to shaping our future, but it is a key part of laying the foundation that will ensure Park City remains a special treasure.

Nann Worel is the mayor of Park City.

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