When Michael Barille started as the executive director of the Historic Park City Alliance in 2016, he wanted to bring his development experience in both the public and private sectors, along with the nearly 20 years he’s spent building relationships in Park City, to the historic district. Barille feels it was a good way for him to contribute to the community.
“Our downtown business district is really the gem of our community, and it has the longest history, and it still feels the most authentic," Barille said. "It separates us as a destination from other places that a lot of people go to, other ski towns in other communities.”
Barille is leaving the role in a few months to allow him more flexibility in navigating upcoming decisions for his family, which may entail relocating. He says he’ll temporarily comanage with the new executive director to encourage a smooth transition, but a new director has yet to be chosen.
Barille says the HPCA has accomplished a lot as an organization, before and during his tenure as executive director. He’s proud of the way the HPCA and businesses on Main Street have handled the recent paid-parking policy, and how the organization has maintained an open door for communication and collaboration with businesses and the City.
“For example, there was a lot of time and energy put into sort of a streetscape planning exercise and trying to put budgets to that under the previous executive director," Barille said. "And we've tried to carry that on and partner with the City to implement pieces of that plan and create an environment that's really conducive to families and to patrons, so it feels like a warm, inviting place for people who do business.”
There are still items on Barille’s to-do list, including a goal to add vibrancy and programming for families in the district, like through interactive public art projects and light entertainment. In the long term, Barille says the organization needs to keep tabs on the financial pressures of doing business in the district.
“We always have to kind of keep our eye on that ball, and our businesses are big contributors to the community, both through the taxes that they pay and the events that we host," Barille said. "I think they embrace that, to a large extent. They understand that we're sort of the heart of the community, and there's some things that come with that responsibility, but it does add additional pressures to being able to hire employees, and to be able to bring people into the district effectively and close sales, and conduct group business and all those kinds of things that help the bottom line.”
A job description and application for the executive director position will be posted soon, with the HPCA executive committee expected to make a hiring decision in the next month or so.
