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Family Donates $50,000 To Build New Bloods Lake Trail on Bonanza Flat

Bonanza Flat
/
Utah Open Lands

The Mountain Trails Foundation recently dedicated the new Bonanza Flat Blood’s Lake Trail in a private ceremony honoring a family who donated the funds to build the trail.  As reported by KPCW, the Bloods Lake trail at the top of Guardsman’s will be closed to parking and trail access sometime this fall.

Mountain Trails Foundation Executive Director, Charlie Sturgis says George and Jan Pilko approached him about two-and-a-half years ago with an interest in donating to Mountain Trails. Sturgis at the time, left the conversation open looking for ways to leverage the sizeable $50,000 Pilko family donation.

“For us, we were building it, one way or the other. We were going to build it. We were going to build it for the City, or we were going to build it out of just donated funds. So, Utah Open Lands writes a grant for $250,000. GOED (Governor’s Office of Economic Development) has 200 grants out there and they go, who are the people we are going to give money to? And, we’re going to give them to the best bets. So, the ones that have more partners with more commitments, look better for the sums of money they’re looking for. So, when you have partners, which is why they asked us to make a commitment and give them an estimate and say we would do it, that would make their grant look better.”

In June 2011, Park City Council adopted a donation policy for community service and private donations on City property. Because Park City Municipal owns the property, the $50,000 donation had to be approved by the City Council. Park City’s Trails and Open Space Manager Heinrich Deters recommended approval to the City Council on September 13, 2018.

“The donor side of it is really kind of Charlie’s. I know they had a plaque made and I approved it, of what the language was, etc. And, I think Andy attended. I don’t know how many people were there, something like that. But I think the donor just kind of requested something to go up there and have a little ceremony.”

The Pilko family plaque is displayed at the entry to the new Bloods Lake trail. It is a hiking only trail and dogs, bikes and motorized vehicles are prohibited.

The new parking area will accommodate 40 vehicles and provide a restroom.   
 

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