Park City has Saved Bonanza Flats

A major milestone has been announced for Bonanza Flats. So many in our community have come together to help save 1,350 acres of backcountry access, wildlife, forests & trails along Guardsman Pass.

Park City plans to move forward with purchasing Bonanza Flats. The acquisition, unanimously approved by the Park City Council, would be financed in part by a $25 million bond Park City voters approved in November. Some of the balance would come from donations raised by Utah Open Lands and other conservation groups that have joined forces to help conserve Bonanza Flats.

After so much work, and uncertainty, no longer will this landscape be in plans for a destination ski and golf development. Bonanza Flats is a large area of land that sits behind Park City and Deer Valley ski resorts and in between neighboring Brighton ski resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Had it gone ahead, proposed development at the site would have severe impacts on air and water quality, add to traffic congestion and sacrifice valued open space. This area is also an important corridor for wildlife movement between Big Cottonwood and American Fork canyons and the Wasatch Back.

In five months this amazing community has done something miraculous and historic. In Utah Open Lands’ 27 years of raising funds to save treasured landscapes, this is the first time they have ever had 11 different nonprofits, three counties, three cities, numerous business and countless individuals come together, coming close to closing a $13 million need. Each organization worked tirelessly on the campaign to give 100% of the money directly to the purchase of Bonanza Flats.

Read more at the Park Record Newspaper: Article on Bonanza Flats