Park City survey shows strong marks for services, but trust in government and economy slips

The study also shows that the majority of people – 61% – think the overall direction Park City is taking rates as “fair” or “poor.” This is below the national benchmark, the study said.

PARK CITY, Utah — The latest results from Park City’s 2025 National Community Survey show residents continue to value the city’s core services—including public safety, recreation, and transit—but express growing dissatisfaction with local governance and signs of economic strain.

The biennial survey, conducted in partnership with Polco/National Research Center, captured feedback from a statistically valid sample of 295 households within the 84060 ZIP code, plus 404 additional online responses. Conducted between late November 2024 and early January 2025, the survey provides a snapshot of resident sentiment across a wide range of issues.

Residents gave high marks to city services. 88% approved of the police department, 98% praised the library, and most respondents commended the city’s trail network, environmental stewardship, and public transit system. Cultural offerings, including arts and music events, also saw an 8% increase in satisfaction.

Educational, cultural, and arts opportunities are highly valued among Parkites – approximately 8 in 10 residents offered positive ratings for opportunities to attend cultural/arts/music activities and community support for the arts. These metrics showed a positive upward trend from previous surveys.

Park City’s natural environment remains one of its strongest assets, with residents giving above-average marks for overall environmental quality, cleanliness, preservation of natural areas, and the city’s well-loved open space—outpacing both national and custom benchmarks.

However, the report flags a significant shift in perceptions of government performance. Roughly 10% drops were recorded in several key areas since the 2023 survey, including:

• The value of services relative to taxes paid
• The city’s efforts to welcome resident involvement
• Government honesty and transparency
• Acting in the best interests of the community
• Informing residents about important issues

The study also shows that the majority of people – 61% – think the overall direction Park City is taking rates as “fair” or “poor.” This is below the national benchmark, the study said.

The decline in trust comes amid sustained public frustration over housing affordability and development, traffic congestion, and development pressures—issues that many residents believe are being mishandled or influenced by outside interests. A December decision to approve Ordinance 987 – the Dakota Pacific housing development – in Kimball Junction was opposed by 94% of Summit County resident, many of whom expressed disappointment in the Summit County Council decision.

“Ignoring years of overwhelming community outcry in opposition to Dakota Pacific, the Council has been negotiating with the developer behind closed doors and appears poised to vote for final approval of the project—during an afternoon meeting on the week before Christmas,” an email from the Summit County’s Republican Party said days before elected official voted.

Another decision which came in the face significant opposition was the Park City Council’s approval of a right of way vacation for Deer Valley Resort in 2023. In addition to that more recently, the council approved a PID that saved Deer Valley developers millions. Critics of the decision urged the council to negotiate for more in the public, private partnership.

“What else should we be asking for if we’re really saving a very wealthy, large private equity firm hundreds of millions of dollars?” Sean Kelleher asked in a public meeting.

Park City Councilmember Jeremy Rubell said the survey results call for introspection. “We need to start asking, ‘What is the City doing to earn these responses?’” he said.

The city’s economic outlook also showed signs of softening. Ratings for overall economic health dropped by 11%, while residents expressed growing concern over traffic (ease of travel by car fell 13%), street repair (-12%), and the fairness with which residents are treated by city leadership (-12%). Still, the survey showed a 21% increase in the number of respondents expecting the economy to have a positive impact on their family income in the next six months—highlighting a paradox of personal optimism amid broader uncertainty.

In response to the results, Mayor Nann Worel acknowledged the decline in civic trust, attributing some of it to the ripple effect of national political divisions.

“We recognize that people all across the nation feel distant from government, and our results reflect national trends,” Worel said in a statement. “I remain committed to building trust, improving transparency, and showing up for this community in meaningful ways.”

The survey’s authors note that recent polarization following the 2024 election may be influencing local perceptions.

Of the 122 questions repeated from the 2023 survey, only 19 showed statistically significant change. As the city enters a pivotal election year, the data suggests that while Park City continues to deliver on many services, trust in governance and long-term direction will be central themes for voters and leaders alike.