Visiting or living in the mountains makes for many incredible experiences, such as skiing and hiking or sitting outside for a drink or concert. The air is clean and the dramatic vistas and open space allow you to get lost in nature. Experiencing a mountain community is an opportunity that everyone deserves to take part in.
But there are also challenges—traffic and waste or added pressure on wildlife among others—that make sustaining these places we cherish difficult. Managing challenge is part of the fabric of Park City, and our community is constantly striving to put our best foot forward to not only create a great place to live, visit, and play but to protect it for future generations. Taking proactive steps has led us down the path to our Mountain IDEAL certification.
What is Mountain IDEAL
Mountain IDEAL is all about understanding the nuanced challenges and opportunities inherent to mountain towns—considering over 150 criteria that support enhancing citizens’ quality of life, driving sustainable growth, preserving public lands and the natural environment, and amplifying community engagement and equity. And in summer 2024, Park City was officially certified as a Mountain IDEAL destination!
This achievement places Park City among an elite group of destinations that have reached this significant milestone. Our certification shows commitment to building community connections and civic programs, a dedication to continuously improving environmental systems, and efforts to educate visitors about outdoor stewardship.
The Details Matter
The best practices that make a community sustainable can often go unnoticed, working quietly in the background. Things like cutting edge water treatment practices, investments in off-site solar power, community development, and sustainable tourism plans probably aren’t front of mind when you visit Park City. But there are some things you may notice around town.
- Here in Park City, we’re lucky to have a completely free and convenient public transit system to take you around town. As a bonus, we’re also investing in fully electric buses. Right now, Park City’s bus fleet is about 30% electric with the remaining running on biodiesel. Be sure to download the Transit App for the most up-to-date schedules and to plan your trips!
- Park city has a rich history, and we’re working hard to preserve and celebrate it! You may notice several mining structures if you’re exploring the slopes around Park City, many of these are being stabilized and preserved by the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History. Recognizing and preserving our past is important for the next generation to make sustainable choices in the future!
- Park City has an incredible amount of open space surrounding our community—over 10k acres! This is in large part due to the incredible work done by groups like Summit Land Conservancy, who purchase and manage undeveloped land for preservation and recreational use.
- Park City is home to the leading adaptive recreation center in the US—the National Ability Center. People of all abilities have the resources available to enjoy outdoor recreation, both at the NAC Ranch and the new McGrath Mountain Center.
- Park City has a thriving arts and culture scene—you may have noticed colorful murals when walking through tunnels or beautifully made artisan goods when shopping along historic Main Street. The Park City and Summit County Arts Council work hard to support art and artists in our community through public installations, creative programming, and advocacy.
How You Can Help
Park City’s status as a Mountain IDEAL destination is possible thanks to hard work from community leaders, residents, our year-round and seasonal workforces, and visitors! Here are some things you can do as a local or visitor to support destination stewardship in Park City:
- Show Appreciation for Frontline Workers—there is no Park City if not for those who help and serve locals and visitors alike!
- Shop Local & Support Local Artisans—some of the best food and goods in town are made by the people who live here!
- Visit Car-Free—take the bus, use shuttles, carpool, and ride your bike.
- Check Trail Conditions—stay up-to-date on trail conditions and check trailhead cameras before driving.
- Engage with our History—visit the Park City Museum or take a guided audio tour of Park City’s early mining history around Main Street
- Reduce Waste—properly throwing out trash and sorting recyclables.
- Respect Wildlife —keep your distance, never feed animals, and limit photo taking.
- Consider Donating or Volunteering while visiting.