It’s the final three weeks for the Summit Land Conservancy to raise the money needed to preserve the Osguthorpe Farm on Old Ranch Road in the Snyderville Basin. They need another $740,000 to close the deal.
There are two $50,000 challenge grants which Summit Land Conservancy has received. The final day to raise the full amount is March 31st. The Osguthorpe family has extended the deadline once. Executive Director of the Summit Land Conservancy, Cheryl Fox has is confident they can reach the $740,000 goal.
“We have decided to take a page from KPCW’s book and offer incentives for people who want to make a contribution. You know we are down to the wire on this. I would like to say a huge thank you to all of the listeners who called in last week to the Summit Land Conservancy hour that helped us raise another $5,000 to save the farm as well as help KPCW out. So, that was an exciting evening."
There have been 800 individual donations made to the conservation of the Osguthorpe farm. Fox says donations have come from many residents in the area as well as others both in and out of the Park City community.
“You know, some people just won’t. Some people can’t. But I will say we have seen amazing, incredible and huge contributions from all of those neighbors and those neighborhoods. You know, there are probably a few people who might be waiting to see if we get a little bit closer. And, I hope they will decide to join with their neighbors.”
Fox says participation in the Osguthorpe Farm conservation effort has been higher than normal.
“When you look at how fund-raising goes, out of every 10 people, only seven will give and out of those seven, only three percent will give to the environment. You know, there are a lot of good causes and I understand that. So, we’re grateful that people support all kinds of good causes in this community so if they’ve got some money to help save open space in this community, we certainly need it.”
Park City open space fund-raising projects in the past couple of years include the Bonanza Flat purchase, the Treasure Hill buy-out and the continuing efforts to preserve the Snow Creek Pastures. Fox isn’t sure she can determine if the community is “tapped out” on giving money to preserve open space.
“If we’re tapped out and we lose $8 million dollars in federal funding, 4 million in land owner donation, and another four million in money that we’ve already raised. You know, for the last three percent? Are we really that tapped out? I think that the people who are super committed and super on board, have given already. Yes. Many of them are giving again. We’re seeing second, third and fourth gifts coming in at this point. So, we do have some incentives. We’re offering our Summit Land conservancy Kuhl brand jackets. Bill White Farms has donated some gift cards, you now for a $5000 donation. Probably the easiest way to find out about those incentives is to call the Summit Land Conservancy’s office. And you can visit wesaveland.org to find all those numbers.”
Fox says the $740,000 needed to complete the purchase of the Osguthorpe Farm is very achievable. She says people just don’t realize the farm is still susceptible to development.
“We hope that people realize the farm is not saved. And, we really do have a final push. But, we are close, right. $740,000 sounds like a lot of money but it really can happen pretty fast.”
The final winter Moonshine event is next Wednesday the 20th. People will meet at 7 pm in the First-Time parking area at Park City Mountain.
