Leadership Park City opens applications for Class 32

Photo: Tanzi Propst 2025

PARK CITY, Utah — Applications are now open for Class 32 of Leadership Park City, the year-long civic-training program credited with shaping hundreds of government, business and nonprofit leaders across Summit County.

The program, which has graduated more than 900 participants since its launch in 1994, is open to people who live or work in Park City or the broader county. Monthly sessions run on Mondays from 3 to 9 p.m. beginning in October, and a five-day “City Tour” in late May or early June immerses the class in another Western community facing issues similar to those at home.

“Leadership Park City is where deep community ties are built,” program director Scott van Hartesvelt said. “It’s a cornerstone of our community identity, thanks to its storied 31-year history and the remarkable leaders of our past and present who have participated. Participants are equipped with the skills, confidence and connections to drive community impact.”

Each class hears directly from local decision-makers on land use, transportation, state policy and other topics, then designs a group project aimed at improving life in the Park City area. Past projects have ranged from sustainability initiatives to arts and recreation programs.

“The program provides leadership training and immersive civic training, learning from the stakeholders at the heart of the decisions that drive life in our community,” van Hartesvelt said. “But what we hear, time and again from alumni, is that the connections people make with their classmates last a lifetime. Participants can expect that they will not only learn more about the inner workings of our community, but that they’ll enrich their own lives in the process.”

The impact can be personal as well as civic, he added. “I hear so many stories about the impact of Leadership on people’s lives that it would be impossible to pick just one. One alum shared that Leadership gave them the courage to run for local office — something they’d never imagined doing. Others have launched nonprofits, started community initiatives, or simply found their voice in civic life.”

A free open house for prospective applicants will be held Aug. 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Park City Library community room. Applications and additional details are available at applyforleadership.com.