Summit Land Conservancy has about five weeks to raise nearly half a million dollars to purchase land near the Weber River. The conservancy has 106 acres of land under contract in Peoa, on Wooden Shoe Lane.
Cheryl Fox is the executive director of the organization. She said they hope to convert the land into a public access nature preserve, by adding trails and access to the river.
“We think this is going to be sort of a lovely place if people want to go walk in the shade, look at the river, fish in the river” she said.
But Fox said the organization needs $450,000 by October 15 to receive a loan to buy the land. The conservancy has $100,000 in matching grants, but they are relying on donations from the public to secure the land.
And while the organization continues to raise money, they have a number of community events planned in the Wasatch Back for the month of September.
This Friday, they’re teaming up with Recycle Utah and Park City Municipal Corporation for a community clean up in Poison Creek, near the Rail Trail.
“It’s this beautiful little area, but a lot of trash gets blown in there and then the trees and the shrubs catch the trash and then it gets down in the creek,” she said.
Fox said the clean up starts at 2 p.m., and community members need to sign up online to volunteer.
The conservancy also hosts “Nature Bathing Walks” on Mondays. Fox said the events help hikers connect with nature during a silent walk and guided meditation session.
“We all know how the open spaces have nurtured us during the pandemic,” she said. “This is a way to really deepen that experience.”
You can find more information on how to sign up for events on their website.
