The Park City Council approved a request for funding Thursday by Utah Open Lands to help meet its deadline for the conservation of Armstrong Snow Ranch Pastures.
The council meeting was standing-room only, as community members wearing red, in honor of Kerry Armstrong’s granting of the Red Barn parcel, filled Council Chambers.
After City staff and Utah Open Lands Executive Director Wendy Fisher presented the request, members of the public lined up to give input. Longtime Park City businessman Mike Sweeney spoke in favor of the Council donating the money, and then pledged to make an additional donation of his own to the tune of $50,000.
“I've been here for many, many, many years working, and I love this town," Sweeney said. "I don't live here in a house, but I'm here almost every day, and I spend my time here trying to help people out in Park City. I think this is very important."
Summit Land Conservancy Executive Director Cheryl Fox also spoke in support of the Council funding Utah Open Lands’ request, saying the preservation of open space is important in mitigating climate change. But she had an additional request, based on the recent development with the Red Barn.
“The fact that Kerry Armstrong is willing to do that in memory of Mel, as I read earlier this week, I think is a game changer," Fox said. "And I would like to ask you to consider closing the gap entirely.”
Mayor Andy Beerman says funding to preserve Armstrong Snow Ranch Pastures aligns with the City’s core values.
“Small town—I mean, we take that literally," Beerman said. "We don't need to grow anymore, and this prevents growth. Natural setting, obviously, this preserves it. Now it has an amazing historic character, and I guess I could say our sense of community might be disrupted if we didn't support this.”
The Council voted unanimously to fund Utah Open Lands’ request for $550,000, to tears and applause from the public. The funding deadline for Armstrong Snow Ranch Pastures is June 30.