On June 2 paid hourly parking began at the Bloods Lake, Bonanza Flat and Empire Pass trailheads.
The rates are $5 per hour on the weekdays and $8 per hour on weekends. Only residents within Park City boundaries can evade the cost, by registering for a free locals parking permit.
The city council created free resident parking because taxpayers funded a $25 million bond to purchase and preserve Bonanza Flat in 2017.
But the nonprofit Utah Open Lands led a fundraising effort to raise another $13 million to fill the deficit of the total cost. That haul involved more than 3,000 individual donors and a variety of government agencies, associations, and private foundations.
During the Park City Council meeting June 12, councilmember Jeremy Rubell referenced internal discussions about a season parking pass for non-residents. Rubell said several people have suggested the concept.
“The whole logic behind it is Park City taxpayers are paying the cost of [Bonanza Flat] through the bond,” Rubell said. “Others donated, and [I’ve] heard some good ideas from the community.”
Park City’s budget team is expected to evaluate the financial contributions to Bonanza Flat to determine who could qualify for a season pass.
It’s unclear when the topic will return for consideration, but council members expressed interest in having a future discussion.
Park City Municipal is a financial supporter of KPCW.
