The oft-photographed white barn and its surrounding meadows and creek serve as a Norman Rockwell–style welcome to town. Purchased by the city in 1991, the 120-acre farmland easement includes a one-mile nature trail abutting a popular paved path. Wildlife, from sandhill cranes to moose, frequent this spot.
2Quarry Mountain
Across Hwy 224 from the McPolin farmlands, this radio tower–topped mountain has 183 acres of open lands, which include hiking trails and special protections for the resident elk herd. Jointly purchased by Park City and Summit County, this parcel lies adjacent to the McPolin property. Together, they create a 303-acre corridor for traffic-savvy wildlife.
3McPolin Farm
The oft-photographed white barn and its surrounding meadows and creek serve as a Norman Rockwell–style welcome to town. Purchased by the city in 1991, the 120-acre farmland easement includes a one-mile nature trail abutting a popular paved path. Wildlife, from sandhill cranes to moose, frequent this spot.
4Round Valley
Thirteen hundred acres smack in the heart of Park City. Originally slated for massive development, Round Valley has been preserved by the city and SLC in sage-covered chunks— first 700 acres, then an additional 368 acres, and recently, thanks to a bond and SLC’s $1 million capital campaign, a 122-acre easement on the adjoining Osguthorpe Farm.
5Quarry Mountain
Across Hwy 224 from the McPolin farmlands, this radio tower–topped mountain has 183 acres of open lands, which include hiking trails and special protections for the resident elk herd. Jointly purchased by Park City and Summit County, this parcel lies adjacent to the McPolin property. Together, they create a 303-acre corridor for traffic-savvy wildlife.
6Weber River Project
Preserving watersheds, agrarian life, wildlife habitat, and fly-fishing tourism means negotiating ongoing riverfront protection on a slew of privately owned properties. SLC holds two easements: the 42-acre Fawcett Ranch in Henefer and the 34-acre Judd Ranch in Wanship. Acquisition of an additional 50-acre piece near the Fawcett land is in the works.
7Round Valley
Thirteen hundred acres smack in the heart of Park City. Originally slated for massive development, Round Valley has been preserved by the city and SLC in sage-covered chunks— first 700 acres, then an additional 368 acres, and recently, thanks to a bond and SLC’s $1 million capital campaign, a 122-acre easement on the adjoining Osguthorpe Farm.
8Empire Canyon
Formerly devastated by mining, this swath of alpine land was SLC’s first coup. The 1,080 acres span Prospect Ridge, Daly Chutes, and, as Fox puts it, “pretty much everywhere that you don’t see houses.” The easement allows skiing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding, but Lady Morgan Springs (critical moose and elk habitat) has special protection.
9Weber River Project
Preserving watersheds, agrarian life, wildlife habitat, and fly-fishing tourism means negotiating ongoing riverfront protection on a slew of privately owned properties. SLC holds two easements: the 42-acre Fawcett Ranch in Henefer and the 34-acre Judd Ranch in Wanship. Acquisition of an additional 50-acre piece near the Fawcett land is in the works.
10Empire Canyon
Formerly devastated by mining, this swath of alpine land was SLC’s first coup. The 1,080 acres span Prospect Ridge, Daly Chutes, and, as Fox puts it, “pretty much everywhere that you don’t see houses.” The easement allows skiing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding, but Lady Morgan Springs (critical moose and elk habitat) has special protection.
Park City open space—a sagebrush-filled haven for hikers, bikers, skiers, moose, eagles, and an array of other flora and fauna—sat on the brink of extinction in the late ’90s, as development inked its way across Summit County maps. As I-beams and asphalt threatened to blot out trails, views, habitat, and watersheds, an organization sprouted in the backhoe’s path. Spearheaded by a local leadership class and initially funded by sales of Park City Witness (a collection of essays and art about preserving open space), Summit Land Conservancy (SLC) pursued its land-saving mission by buying development rights, thus preventing suburban sprawl while nurturing recreation, habitat preservation, and the ranching way of life. Now an accredited land trust, the nonprofit (summitlandconservancy.org) celebrates 10 years, 2,400 acres protected in conservation easements, a successful $1 million capital campaign, and selfless stakeholders dedicated to preservation. SLC marks this milestone by returning to its roots with a new Witness publication due out in June. After all, as executive director Cheryl Fox says, “The land can’t speak for itself.”
