© 2024 KPCW

KPCW
Spencer F. Eccles Broadcast Center
PO Box 1372 | 460 Swede Alley
Park City | UT | 84060
Office: (435) 649-9004 | Studio: (435) 655-8255

Music & Artist Inquiries: music@kpcw.org
News Tips & Press Releases: news@kpcw.org
Volunteer Opportunities
General Inquiries: info@kpcw.org
Listen Like a Local Park City & Heber City Summit & Wasatch counties, Utah
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

SEAC Has More Questions Than Answers For City Council

enjoyparkcity.com
SEAC is concerned that local's summers are too busy.

Events in Park City have huge benefits for locals as they bring in sales tax revenue for the city but the Special Events Advisory Committee (SEAC)  is concerned that residents may be feeling overwhelmed by the number of summer events and the congestion it brings with it.

Jonathan Weidenhamer is Park City’s economic development director.

“Winters pretty good," Weidenhamer said. "We got the right number – it’s not too big. Winter is supposed to be busy – it’s a ski town. But it’s the summer – this over-riding feeling of, ‘We want our town back.’ And the events we’re doing should be authentic to kind of who we are. Can we just bring in locals and bring in people from the community. Why are we driving people from the region here?”

Weidenhamer believes that most people understand that Park City has grown significantly in the past 20 years but doesn’t want to turn a blind eye to the local concerns.

Focused on protecting residents from the negative impacts that so many events can have, SEAC works with event coordinators to prevent issues rather than reacting to them.

“We’ve done a pretty good job mitigating those impacts," Weidenhamer said. "When people said the Silly Market was too loud – we got it quieter. When they said parking on Park Ave. was terrible we’ve tried to worked on it. It’s not perfect but it’s always improving.”

Looking at the issue from all angles, Weidnehamer is convinced it doesn’t have to be an "all or nothing" decision.

“From my standpoint – seeing Sunday with no event there - would be kind of weird," Weidenhamer said. "But the better question is, ‘Do we need it for 17 Sundays?’”

Positive that everyone wants a change in the right direction – Weidenhammer hopes the community will attend the city council meeting on Sept. 22 to share in the discussion.