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As anticipation builds for the possibility of Salt Lake City hosting the Olympic & Paralympic Games once again in 2034, our recent panel at the Utah Olympic Park explored the role of government and philanthropy in shaping the impact of these Games on Park City. This panel marks the inaugural event of a special speaker series Park City Community Foundation is hosting this year, tailored for many of our donors and for local nonprofit board members.
The conversation was moderated by Tom Kelly, Communications Lead for the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, and our panelists included Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation CEO Colin Hilton, Summit County Councilmember Roger Armstrong, and Park City Mayor Nann Worel.
In the opening remarks, Joel Zarrow, Park City Community Foundation CEO, made the point that we can predict that Park City can put on a world-class Olympic Games. We’ve done it before. But when the rest of the world goes home, what do we want our community to look like? We have an Olympic-sized opportunity, but without collaboration and cooperation, there’s a chance the burden could fall on our local nonprofits.
The key takeaway resonating throughout the discussion was the transformative potential of the Games to propel our community towards its loftiest goals and priorities. Providing a tangible deadline, the Games can serve as a catalyst for change, urging us to be bold in our aspirations and lighting the path for others in the state and worldwide.
We saw a lot of change in our state leading up to, during, and after the 2002 Olympics. How do we use the momentum and spotlight of the Games to push for sustainable change that helps make Utah an outstanding place for everyone? The issues that were most discussed during the panel and clearly top of mind included traffic, transportation, parking, affordable housing, sustainability, and equity.
A recurring theme underscored the paramount importance of partnership and collaboration. It is through alliances forged between city and county entities, across sectors, with local businesses and residents, and extending to other communities within Utah and beyond, that meaningful progress can be achieved.
Zarrow wrapped up the discussion reminding us that this is a small community where your engagement is important and can directly influence these decisions. To do that, we need to continue showing up and working together.
Many thanks to Utah Olympic Park for sponsoring this event.