Proposed cemetery near Utah Olympic Park spurs public pushback and calls for transparency

Proposed cemetery site location near Utah Olympic Park. Photo: Snyderville Basin Cemetery District

PARK CITY, Utah – A proposal to amend a deed restriction on open space property below Utah Olympic Park (UOP) to allow for a cemetery has stirred concern among stakeholders and community members, prompting calls for greater transparency and public input.

The Snyderville Basin Cemetery District is requesting that the Snyderville Basin Recreation District (Basin Rec) Board support its effort to revise a deed restriction on the PRI open space near Kimball Junction. The proposed location, a 10-acre site situated along Olympic Parkway, is currently home to Basin Rec’s Basin 5K Nordic trail and RTS singletrack trail—both popular recreational assets.

In a statement, Dana Jones, executive director of Basin Rec, said the recreation district wants to ensure community voices are heard before any action is taken. “We’ve designated time at our board meeting on Thursday for the Cemetery District to present their proposal and for public comment,” she said.

The land it is being proposed on is co-owned by the Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District and Summit County, County Manager Shayne Scott explained.

Although the Basin Rec Board cannot approve the land use change outright, Scott clarified that their recommendation will hold weight with the Summit County Council, which serves as the ultimate decision-maker.

“The county council is also the governing board of Basin Rec, so it’s really kind of semantics,” Scott said. “We’re expecting the Basin Rec board to take a position.”

An iconic viewshed at stake

But the plan has already drawn early opposition from nearby stakeholders, including the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation. Colin Hilton, president and CEO of the foundation, submitted a list of concerns ahead of the meeting, characterizing the process as lacking in public transparency and insufficient in engaging neighboring landowners.

“The location proposed is very prominent and located along a highly trafficked entry corridor,” Hilton wrote. “Why are we attempting to add additional uses to open space and viewsheds that are beloved and cared for so well today?”

Hilton said the proposed cemetery could diminish the spirit of the area, which has long been promoted as a hub for recreation, health, and Olympic legacy. He also expressed frustration with what he described as a lack of response from the Cemetery District to alternative site suggestions he has shared.

The PRI parcel lies within the viewshed of both State Route 224 and the UOP’s ski jumps. Hilton warned that the proposed change could negatively impact the visitor experience for both tourists and athletes who use the “Gold Medal Mile” trail network that runs through the area.

Scott acknowledged those views but noted that the Cemetery District intends to develop a more natural, low-profile site—possibly without upright headstones—to better blend with the landscape. “They really want to keep the natural landscape,” Scott said. “In some people’s minds, that wouldn’t damage the viewshed at all.”

He urged the Basin Rec Board to delay any decision regarding the subdivision or rezoning of the property until a more robust public engagement process is conducted.

In October of 2024, the Snyderville Basin Cemetery District board of trustees announced plans to introduce the district’s first-ever property tax, aiming to fund a new cemetery for the area. The board was appointed by the Summit County Council.

The board, led by Chair Max Greenhalgh, explored several other options throughout the Snyderville Basin, including parcels on Highway 224, in Silver Creek, and near Silver Summit.

In November 2024, Summit County Council voted to approve a property tax increase to fund the Snyderville Basin Cemetery District, despite significant public concerns about location and costs. At the time, the Cemetery District’s board sought $495,000 in annual revenue through the new tax, which translates to $25 per year on a $2 million home for primary residents. The district sent over 15,000 tax notices to residential and business properties in the Snyderville Basin area regarding the increase.

“The Park City Cemetery is very full. So, we asked this group to find a solution. If people don’t like this spot, where would you like us to go?” Scott said.

Other options could include the county purchasing land elsewhere, but Scott pointed out this land is already owned by the county and using it as a cemetery is specifically called out in the development agreement for it.

The issue is expected to draw significant attention at Thursday’s board meeting, where both public comment and a presentation from the Cemetery District are scheduled.

Meeting Details:

The meeting will take place at the Basin Recreation Trailside Office, 5715 Trailside Drive, Park City, UT 84098, and will also be available via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81092537384. Public comments may also be submitted via email to dana@basinrecreation.org by 12:00 p.m. on May 8. To view the meeting agenda, please visit here: Board Information – Basin Recreation