Summit Land Conservancy

The Summit Land Conservancy celebrates the success of the land conservation agreement reached last weekend between Utah Open Lands and the Armstrong family.

The funding to preserve the 19-acre Snow Ranch Pastures came in with about a day to spare. It is successful closing triggered another land grant from long-time resident, Kerry Armstrong. Contingent on the closing of the Snow Ranch Pastures, she announced she would place a conservation easement on her 16-acre Red Barn parcel. Utah Open Lands.

Summit County Council Member Kim Carson says she’s excited that the county has preserved three major land parcels in North Summit—not just for open space, but to continue agricultural activity.

Meeting on Wednesday, the council approved three conservation easements for the Summit Land Conservancy.

The county will be a co-holder on the easements, which legally will help the Conservancy to obtain funding.

Carson has details on the three properties.

Summit Land Conservancy is working on three properties in Eastern Summit county that, once under an easement will preserve a total of about 4500 acres of open space. To access some of the conservation funding they will need county support for the endeavor.

Summit Land Conservancy Conservation Director, Kate Sattelmeier says they’re seeking funding through both federal and state governments to place the three properties into an agricultural conservation easement.

After almost two years and nearly $18 million, The Summit Land Conservancy officially closed on a permanent conservation easement for the 158-acre Osguthorpe Farm on Old Ranch Road. 

The project was funded by an $8.8 million federal grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Services; $4.5 million from individual donors; $3.9 million from the Osguthorpe family; and $500,000 from Summit County. Summit Land Conservancy completed its fundraising in March.

The Park City Council heard a presentation Thursday from two local nonprofits, who are requesting to carve out a space at the Quinn’s Junction Sports Complex for their permanent offices.

Summit Land Conservancy and the Mountain Trails Foundation’s leases at their current Bonanza Park office spaces are likely ending next spring. The two are looking to combine forces and resources to build a permanent home base near the maintenance building at the Quinn’s Junction Sports Complex.

The Osguthorpe Farm conservation contract is set to close any day now. And, the Summit Land Conservancy has two more conservation easements that should be sewn up this year under the same USDA backed program.

The Summit Land Conservancy announced the campaign to save the 158-acre Osguthorpe Farm on Old Ranch Road in the Snyderville Basin is over. They’ve raised the $17,856,000 dollars needed to create an agricultural easement and preserve the farm forever.

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.

The Summit Land Conservancy recently closed on two properties as part of its Weber River Watershed Initiative. KPCW’s Emily Means has more.

The 44-acre Stephens Ranch in Henefer and an 82-acre ranch property in Wanship are the latest conservation easements established by the Summit Land Conservancy. Both were initiated by a 2016 federal grant.  Conservancy Executive Director Cheryl Fox says these parcels add to a patchwork of conservation easements the organization has been creating along the Weber River.

The Osguthorpe family is opening the farm on Old Ranch Road to cross-country skiers this Saturday. KPCW’s Emily Means reports.

Cross-country skiers have the chance to ski the Osguthorpe Farm from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 12. Summit Land Conservancy Executive Director Cheryl Fox asks that participants park at Willow Creek, and the organization will shuttle people to the farm. Fox says this parcel of land lends itself well to cross-country skiing.

On today’s program, the Director of Summit Land Conservancy Cheryl Fox and Property Owner Ari Ionnides have an update on a 235 acre conservation easement. Summit County Council member Doug Clyde discusses why the water quality of the Weber River is an urgent priority and the Executive Director of Tanya Taylor Productions, Tanya Taylor talks about her new musical "Lost Boys of Sudan" that will be presented in Park City in February.

The Summit Land Conservancy continues to raise funds to preserve the Osguthorpe Farm on Old Ranch Road and they’ve successfully expanded a conservation easement in the Sun Peak neighborhood in the Snyderville Basin. KPCW’s Carolyn Murray has this:

The Summit Land Conservancy has advocated for the Treasure Hill Open Space Bond throughout this election season. A handful of Park City 501 C-3 organizations joined forces to endorse the $48 million-dollar bond through an advertising campaign. Carolyn Murray has this:

Most of the 48 million dollars will be spent to buy out the Treasure Hill development. The proposed project has been discussed and debated for more than three decades. The total cost to Park City is $64 million dollars.

The Summit Land Conservancy announced progress to fund the purchase of the Osguthorpe Farm Conservation Easement.  The Snyderville Basin Recreation Board will contribute to the open space preservation effort of what some are calling the last farm on Old Ranch Road.  Carolyn Murray has this:

Basin Recreation is contributing $500,000 dollars toward the preservation efforts. Summit Land Conservancy Executive Director, Cheryl Fox said the land will have public access for winter recreation.