SOS key to snowboarding, life

Growing up in Park City, I always wanted to learn how to snowboard but was not given the opportunity until I joined SOS Outreach. Learning to snowboard was hard, way harder than I had imagined. There were many times I wanted to give up, but my mentor and peer group motivated me by making every ride day fun. This first year also reinforced SOS’ core values, including discipline to keep getting up after falling and courage to take risks safely.

When we weren’t snowboarding, we participated in community service activities and skill development workshops. I am a shy person, but having my mentor and peer group with me throughout it all helped me to open up. They helped to create a comfortable, positive, and supportive environment. This gave me the confidence to pursue two internships as part of SOS’ career development program, as well as become a junior mentor for younger participants.

The most important thing that I’ve learned from my SOS experience is to take advantage of the connections and relationships you build in the program with mentors or other participants because being part of a team can be impactful. The SOS program brings inclusivity and a large diverse group of people who may share the same experiences as you or bring in a different perspective that you can learn from. I hope you will consider making a donation to SOS Outreach during Live PC Give PC so that more youth have the opportunity to experience SOS like I did.

---

---

Eimee Meneses

Park City

---

---

Speech & Debate needs your help!

“Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” — John F. Kennedy

The Park City High School Speech & Debate Team is a forum for students to critically analyze issues of national importance, develop key skills, and learn to see all sides of an argument. Every student, regardless of financial situation, is welcome on our team and empowered to compete at the highest level.

We need your support to continue to exist. The following are stories of how debate has transformed the lives of many members of our team. As you read them, please consider donating to our Live PC Give PC Campaign. 

All donations directly support our students. Any amount of money is a contribution to creating a less polarized, smarter, kinder world. When I stumbled into my first debate practice, I had no idea that I would soon be on a journey of exploring health-care policy, water protection, the philosophy of borders, China’s environmental protection, and so much more. I have learned to view issues objectively and that the truth often sits between the loudest voices.

Despite our few resources, we are a mighty team. We achieved second place at the UHSAA 5A Debate State Championship last year. We plan to win this year, but we can only do that with your support. 

Thank you for your help.

Noah Canada

Captain, Park City High Speech & Debate Team

Excited for Human Library event

I am writing to express my excitement and support for the Human Library event hosted by the Summit County Library Kimball Junction Branch. In a world filled with information and knowledge, the concept of human books, real people with personal experiences of bias, discrimination, and prejudice, is truly inspiring.

This innovative event offers a unique opportunity for our community to engage in one-on-one conversations with these “human books.” It provides a safe space for readers to ask questions, share stories, and gain a deeper understanding of the diverse experiences that exist within our society. It’s a chance to challenge stereotypes, break down barriers, and build empathy.

I commend the Summit County Library for bringing this exceptional initiative to our community. The dedication of Susan “Murph” Murphy and her team in organizing this event is admirable. Their efforts to provide an open platform for dialogue and understanding are truly praiseworthy.

The Human Library has a track record of success worldwide, and I’m confident it will have a positive impact right here in Summit County. This event, sponsored by Friends of the Summit County Library, is a testament to the power of partnerships and collaboration in our community.

I encourage all residents to attend this event, even if it’s just for 20 minutes. It’s an opportunity to broaden our perspectives, challenge biases, and strengthen the bonds within our community. Let’s make this inaugural Human Library a resounding success, and perhaps, the start of a tradition that fosters understanding and unity.

Cami Richardson

Kamas

Let’s stem the wildlife carnage on 224

We all know what happens on our roads — Park City’s S.R. 224, in particular. Drivers and large animals too frequently collide. We need real solutions. 

Next year S.R. 224 will be expanded by 40% and 60% between Kimball Junction and Park City proper, becoming at least a six-lane thoroughfare. The intention is to increase Bus Rapid Transit by adding dedicated bus lanes on either side, plus bike lanes, walking lanes and curbs. S.R. 224 will change from its current 82-foot width to between 115- and 131-foot width, according to BRT designs. Travelers will still be incommoded with traffic pinch points at the beginning and end of 224. More importantly, this project will increase driver-wildlife collisions unless our community takes action. 

Utah taxpayers spend an estimated $130+ million annually in damages and deaths from driver-wildlife collisions. As it stands, Park City’s S.R. 224 is the fifth most dangerous stretch of road in the entire state of Utah for these types of collisions. The new road will fill the corridor from Swaner Nature Preserve, past McPolin’s historic white barn, and into Park City proper, resembling I-80.

The number of driver-wildlife incidents and deaths will increase without additional safety measures. If we must expand the road, wildlife fencing and a natural wildlife passage over or under S.R. 244 should be included and built before spreading asphalt. These wildlife connectivity measures will pay for themselves in nearly two years, costing one sum of $3-$5 million, plus maintenance. Compare that to the annual millions we pay for incidents without these safeguards.   

As we see and lament the carnage of deer, elk and moose daily along 224, not to mention what we do not readily see in human consequences, I wonder why safety was not factored into the project. Why are Park City and Summit County acquiring open spaces to protect views, wildlife and habitat while concurrently planning to significantly expand this wide-open, unprotected road?

Wildlife fencing and passage over or under the road would reduce incidents and deaths by up to 90%. Wildlife passages are that effective. Google the praise given UDOT for building the wildlife overpass that we hardly notice at the Parley’s Canyon summit.

If we care about wildlife, drivers, safety and views, let’s act on this and insist on fencing and animal connectivity. The animals know no better. They cross the road to seek water, food, partners and herds. They are most active at dusk, night and dawn when drivers struggle to see them and can’t avoid collisions when they finally do. We have the knowledge and wherewithal to address safety on behalf of both drivers and wildlife. Let’s do it.

I urge that individually and together we communicate with our Summit County and Park City Council members. Council members have expressed a preference for email. If you support safe wildlife fencing and passage on 224, which naturally increases driver safety, please write an email letter as soon as possible to savepeoplesavewildlife@gmail.com. All email letters will be given to the Park City and Summit County councils. Also, visit https://savepeoplesavewildlife.org/. The folks who run this organization have done the lion’s share of research for the rest of us, tracking this subject for years.

Meg Leaf

Park City

The elusive ‘S’ in a grand ol’ name

Park City exists because of treasure — primarily, silver treasure. Back in 1868 a couple of miners found some promising looking rocks up behind what is now Cushing’s Cabin at Deer Valley.

They stuck a staff in the ground and attached a flag to mark their claim. This eventually became the Flagstaff Mine, the first mine in the Park City area. This original silver treasure eventually gave way to the current winter sports treasure.

On Dec. 21, 1963, Treasure Mountains ski resort opened. That is Treasure Mountains, with an “S,” not “Treasure Mountain.” It remained Treasure Mountains until it was renamed Park City Resort in 1968.

Ever since that time many folks have been misspelling the original name. Perhaps the confusion started in 1965, when the Treasure Mountain Inn officially opened; or 1982, when Treasure Mountain Junior High Schooo opened. There is a Treasure Hill (top of Payday chairlift), and a Treasure Hollow Ski Run at Park City Mountain, but there never was a Treasure Mountain ski resort. 

It’s time we started showing our grand old mountain some respect. Don’t forget the “S” when writing about Treasure Mountains. See you there on Nov. 17.

Jim Tedford

Treasure Mountains Ski Patrol

Should share the cost burden for recreation

Facing consistent pressure from non-Parkite pickleball enthusiasts, the Park City City Council deftly and purposefully deflected responsibility to ballot in the form of the shortsighted and frankly punitive Go Bond.

Park City is indeed a recreation town. We love our non-downhill activities from Nordic to mountain biking and more recently pickleball.

That said, I’m bewildered and appalled that the surrounding community has the audacity to harass our government to put this irresponsible initiative to vote. There are 70,000 people in Wasatch and Summit counties who use our facilities at the same fee structure as Parkites, while not sharing in the property tax onus.

Why are we Parkites even considering this handout? The City Council did Parkites a disservice. Go Bond supporters encouraged aspirational youth figure skaters and other athletes into publicly supporting the bond via council meeting comments and letters to this very newspaper. Attempts to manipulate public sentiment haven’t persuaded me. This initiative isn’t fair. 

If approved, the Go Bond will cost the average non-resident Parkite an additional $20 per month to support facilities they most likely won’t even use. That’s $240/year or $144 to subsidize facilities that most of us won’t use. I support recreation, but this bond is an affront to Park City taxpayers. These construction costs should either be shared by the surrounding citizens or there should be a zip code based fee structure.  

Vote no on the Go Bond. If Parkites and the surrounding community truly want these facilities, let’s equally bear the tax burden. 

David Kleinman

Park City

Where will the water come from?

Where is the new Mayflower ski project getting its water to make snow? Because they’re obviously going to have to make snow. The Jordanelle? Has the local government granted permission to use this community resource? If we don’t have enough water for our grass, how could we possibly have enough water for more snowmaking?  The snow isn’t going to fall from the sky no matter how much people hope it will. Scientists tell us that it needs to snow for eight and more years like it did this past winter in order to return to some type of “normal” — which, of course, won’t happen. This is the new normal.

What’s happening with the Park City government? Why do real estate developers almost always get approval for what they ask? There are new builds everywhere, not to mention the projects at Deer Valley and Park City Mountain. Where is the affordable housing that has been promised for decades? I agree with Angela Moschetta that Park City and its environs need some type of moratorium on building to have time to do studies and develop plans.

We have 1) diminishing water resources and no water conservation plan; 2) no urban development plan; 3) no infrastructure plan; and 4) no traffic mitigation plan that I can tell. If the city does have these plans, it would certainly be nice to know. 

What about the often-discussed parking lots/structures on the outskirts of town that would allow workers to park their cars and take shuttles to/from their jobs in Park City in a bus-only lane? Less traffic, less pollution of both airborne and noise levels, less aggravation. This summer, northbound 224 was a parking lot at 3:30 p.m., with one person/car. It’s outrageous, a waste of fuel and human energy, and so unnecessary. 

We have skied in Park City for almost 40 years, and lived here part time since we bought our condo in 1999. We are increasingly saddened by the “progress” that’s happening in our beautiful and special part of the world. 

Dr. Jan E. Prokop

Park City