Park City is a place where people care deeply, show up for one another, and believe that community can still be a force for good. That belief shaped every major decision I’ve made over the past four years. Serving as Park City’s first female mayor has been the honor of my life.

While I did not campaign on that distinction, I understand what it represents — not just for me, but for our evolving community.

My path to public life was shaped in my youth by frequent moves in the name of service. My father worked on heavy construction projects across the West, and our family learned how to put down roots and pull them up again as life required. That pattern continued into adulthood, including my own time in the Navy.

I didn’t fully understand the value of staying put until I met the love of my life — my husband, Mike — and we settled for a time in Alabama.

After earning two degrees and working in public health, I found myself drawn to bridging gaps between systems and people. That instinct has guided me since — listening first, leading with compassion, and building trust. I brought that philosophy with me to Park City when we made it our forever home in 2008.

One of my proudest accomplishments as mayor was re-opening City Hall after the pandemic. By that, I don’t just mean unlocking the doors. I mean opening your municipal government — insisting on transparency and accessibility.

I held twice monthly “Meet with the Mayor” sessions because good government starts with conversation. And you showed up — sometimes quietly, sometimes loudly, often passionately. That engagement matters.

Park City faces both immediate pressures and long-term challenges like transportation, affordability, growth and protecting the character that makes this place home.

During my term, we took meaningful steps to protect our neighborhoods, including lowering residential speed limits citywide. That decision was about re-balancing daily life in a world-class resort town, ensuring that residents remain at the center of the experience.

We launched greatly expanded service from the Richardson Flat Park & Ride to area resorts — a successful effort that has reduced single-occupancy vehicles entering the city core. Our steady progress to re-imagine S.R. 248 reflects years of coordination and persistence.

We also completed the 3Kings Water Treatment Plant, which will serve Park City with clean, reliable drinking water for decades to come — essential work that rarely makes headlines.

Affordability has guided many of our most important efforts. The EngineHouse affordable housing development is a defining achievement. The first of its kind in Park City, a public-private partnership, it provides for-rent units to members of the local workforce within walking distance of transit, grocery stores, businesses, and recreation – supporting a more sustainable, connected way of living. 

Our child-care scholarship program tackled affordability head-on, helping working families stay in Park City, and has inspired a similar effort in Summit County. When local government comes up with creative solutions surrounding complicated issues, others often follow.

We also invested in community spaces that reflect who we are. The new community center at City Park — The Mine — will serve as a gathering place for generations.

Upgrades to the MARCaquatic facilities were long overdue. Progress toward a new senior center has not always been easy, and delays can be disappointing, but relationships have improved and we are committed to serving our growing senior population.

Not every chapter of my tenure has been a win. The departure of the Sundance Film Festival and the Kimball Art Center’s decision to pursue a new home with a different development partner are real losses. These institutions helped make up Park City’s cultural identity, and their absence will be felt across our community.

I believe local government’s role is to create the conditions for creativity, culture, and artistic expression to thrive. We are fortunate to have extraordinary local artists among us, and with thoughtful leadership, Park City will continue to foster a vibrant cultural landscape.

As we look ahead, I believe one of the greatest tests before Park City is whether we remain open — open to new ideas and new solutions. We cannot slam the door shut on younger residents who are just getting started, shut out families putting down their own roots, or not welcome folks who are essential to a truly vibrant community — teachers, first responders, health-care providers, service workers, and many others.

Communities that stop evolving do not protect themselves — they fall behind. We must continue to prioritize affordable opportunities to live in Park City.

The years in front of us are crucial. By building trust and collaboration with state leaders, Park City now has a seat at the table as planning begins for the 2034 Winter Games. We are positioned to advocate proactively for our community – ensuring the Olympics strengthen rather than strain the place we call home. I am confident that our new leadership at the city recognizes this moment.

The work of local government is all-encompassing, and it has been my life for the better part of 15 years. What I will miss most about being mayor (and in public service in general) are the people — city staff who show up every day with dedication and care, as well as residents who engage sincerely, ask hard questions, and push us to do better.

If you have ever thought of running for office, just do it. You will make the most amazing new friends.

This is not goodbye, Park City. Mike and I will remain active, engaged and invested in this community we love. I leave office confident in our future and deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me. 

It has been an honor to serve as your mayor.

Nann Worel’s has served as Park City mayor from 2022 until the new year. She served on the City Council from 2016 to 2022, and the Planning Commission from 2011 through 2015.

The post What I’ve learned serving as Park City’s mayor, and why it matters for the future appeared first on Park Record.

As we wrap up the closing weekend of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival — the 41st hosted here in Park City — I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped make this year’s event a success.

For the past 10 days, our mountain town has again been in the spotlight, and we delivered an award-worthy performance in our supporting role. From resident volunteers and city team members to our first responders and local merchants, we came together to create that unmistakable Park City magic. 

Not a believer in magic? Just take a look at the local, regional, and national coverage of this year’s festival — it speaks for itself. 

This year, Police Chief Wade Carpenter, in consultation with partner law enforcement organizations, made the necessary decision to pedestrianize Main Street during the festival, a major public safety call made just days before opening night.

While the last-minute change brought challenges, especially for our local businesses and Old Town residents, the response from festival-goers was overwhelmingly positive. The Historic Park City Alliance and the Park City Chamber even pulled live entertainment out of their hats when we needed it!  

A huge thank you to Main Street businesses for adapting to this change and turning a challenge into an opportunity. Your collective flexibility and generosity were key to keeping the festival safe while showcasing all that Main Street has to offer.

I was especially touched to hear about Mumbai House and how they provided 80 meals to our police and essential personnel during the long, stressful hours of opening weekend — a testament to the community spirit that makes Park City exceptional.  

To our residents who volunteer, support and attend the festival every year: I know the influx of visitors and the accompanying changes can at times be disruptive to your daily lives. And trust me — if I were an actual magician, I’d make all traffic disappear.

Your patience and hospitality do not go unnoticed. It’s your warm welcome that leaves a lasting impression on our guests and reaffirms, year after year, that we are the best mountain hosts around. 

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I never shy away from addressing the elephant in the room: The future of Sundance in Park City is not guaranteed. While that uncertainty presents challenges, it also reminds us of the importance of working together to navigate what lies ahead.

Our magic isn’t tied to one event or one moment — it’s rooted in strong community connection. 

That means continuing to support our local businesses, embracing smart solutions to our evolving needs, and finding ways to ensure Park City remains a one-of-a-kind home for arts and culture. In this new year, let’s commit to preparing for our future together and using our connectedness as a strength. Let’s challenge each other to be bold in our thinking and open to big ideas and new approaches. 

Our future is bright. 

Nann Worel is the mayor of Park City.

The post Mayor: Park City’s magic is alive and well, and shines during Sundance  appeared first on Park Record.

Statement from Mayor Nann Worel on behalf of the Park City Council:

The Park City Council and I recognize that resort communities face significant livability challenges — and it is the workforce that all too often shoulders the weight of today’s economic pressures. Supporting a professional workforce is essential to the health, safety, and vitality of our town. 

After yet another weekend of confusion and disruption due to the unresolved labor dispute at Park City Mountain, the City Council and I urgently call on Vail Resorts to take immediate action to conclude negotiations and end the uncertainty.

Park City Mountain is a cornerstone of Park City’s community well-being, and it is Vail Resorts’ responsibility as an essential employer to resolve this conflict without further delay.

As we stand by ready to assist in any way necessary to help bring this matter to a resolution, we humbly ask everyone for civility and respectful behavior toward each other during this challenging time.

The post Park City mayor weighs in on ski patrol strike appeared first on Park Record.

Historic Main Street is the heartbeat of Park City — where residents and visitors alike gather to shop, dine, and experience Park City’s history and charm. Main Street is more than just a street. It’s an iconic symbol of what makes Park City a destination mountain town that is also an amazing place that we get to call home. 

Change can be daunting, yet as areas evolve and grow all around us, Park City must also advance and move forward. As amenities have been added in the region, competition for people’s business and attention and employees have all increased as well. Thoughtful planning and investments are required to ensure Main Street remains successful for generations to come, and I invite you to join the conversation about its future. 

Last spring, we formed an advisory committee to explore concepts to enhance the area’s infrastructure, support local businesses, improve resident quality of life, and preserve the historic character that defines Old Town. The committee, made up of local business leaders and residents, volunteered their time and knowledge to develop a set of forward-thinking concepts to pursue a more sustainable, accessible and vibrant Main Street. 

Now we need your voice in this process. Please share your thoughts on the future of Main Street at either of two drop-in engagement sessions on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 9-11 a.m. and the second at 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Miners Hospital in City Park.  

You will have the opportunity to view the committee’s designs and maps, ask questions, and provide feedback on a range of ideas aimed at improving Main Street and its surrounding areas. These ideas include everything from revitalizing public spaces and plazas, redesigning Main Street to making it more pedestrian-friendly, and redeveloping Swede Alley with underground parking and new amenities. 

The committee also recognizes the importance of enhancing access to Old Town through regional transportation solutions.

This is an exciting moment for Park City. We have the chance to shape the future of a most-cherished part of town, but we need input from the people who live, work and recreate here. Your feedback will help us refine and prioritize these concepts and ensure that the future reflects the needs, values, and desires of a broad swath of residents and businesses. 

I want to thank the Main Street Advisory Committee for their dedication to this project, and for their willingness to suggest both ambitious and practical ideas to ensure the long-term success of Old Town.

Together, we can create a Main Street that honors our past while embracing the future.  

We look forward to hearing from you! 

Nann Worel is the mayor of Park City.

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