A weekend of wellness and discovery kicks off Vision2050’s 25-year vision for Park City

PARK CITY, Utah — A new community initiative is setting its sights on the goal of making Park City one of the healthiest towns in the world by 2050. Through a combination of health education, preventive wellness, personal health assessments and community connection, Vision2050 is redefining what it means to live well. 

Vision2050, stewarded by Ashley Heather and Adam St. Simons, is a 25-year initiative that aims to build a culture where living longer and healthier is a shared community priority.

Inspired by the concept of Blue Zones, regions around the world where people are known for living exceptionally long and healthy lives, Heather and St. Simons hope Park City can one day join places such as Okinawa, Japan, and Sardinia, Italy, as an example of what a health-focused community can achieve. 

The idea began when Heather considered the future he wanted for himself and the community he calls home.

“I want to ski and play tennis on my 100th birthday, but that ambition means much more if my friends and neighbors are there to enjoy it with me,” Heather said. “We have an extraordinary outdoor and active lifestyle in Park City. The opportunity now is to build on that with better understanding of our health, earlier action and stronger connection. Vision2050 is the start of a 25-year commitment to making healthy living something we do together.”

For Heather, who has spent 15 years working in the health and longevity space, Park City is a natural place to begin.

“I think there’s an opportunity to broaden how Park City relates to the rest of the world outside of snow,” he said. “And I think health and wellness is a great fit.”

Redefining what it means to be healthy

For Heather, Park City’s reputation as an active community presents an opportunity. While residents may spend much of their time enjoying the outdoors, he believes physical activity alone does not paint a complete picture of their health.

“I think Park City and many people in Park City see themselves as being healthy, but I would call them active,” he said. “There are lots of active people hiking, biking, running, skiing, doing all these amazing activities. But active does not necessarily mean healthy.”

The distinction comes down to understanding what’s happening beneath the surface. By using health data and preventative care, people are able to take a more proactive approach and understand their bodies before problems arise. 

“I think it’s so important to understand the insides of your body and what’s going on, and not wait for a signal of pain or disease, but be proactive so that you can understand this, get the data, and then make the changes you need to make,” he said.

That philosophy also means taking a more active role in personal health decisions. “You are the CEO of your health. Don’t leave your health to your doctor. Your doctor is not responsible for your health. You are,” Heather said. 

It’s a philosophy that informs Vision2050’s guiding framework, 90-80-8. The numbers represent three long-term goals: raising average life expectancy to 90, ensuring 80% of people in their 80s are living independently, and having eight out of 10 people feel a sense of happiness and purpose. 

But the goal isn’t simply to live longer. It’s to remain healthy enough to enjoy those additional years. “Healthspan is how many healthy days you have in that life,” Heather said. “It’s no good living to 100 if your 80s and 90s are spent sick or in a hospital bed.”

For Vision2050, the goal isn’t simply to add years to people’s lives. It’s to help ensure those years are lived with independence, vitality and a sense of purpose.

Vision2050 is now inviting the community to its inaugural gathering Nov. 13-15, bringing together health experts, musicians, local businesses and residents for a weekend of learning, discovery and connection. 

Friday, Nov. 13: Ideas for a healthier future

The weekend will kick off with an afternoon of expert presentations, which will explore topics including sleep, metabolic health, brain health, hormones, diagnostics and longevity, with an expert panel and audience Q&A. 

Featured speakers include Super Age founder David Stewart, Dr. Greg Eckel, Lindsay Wojciechowski, NP, Dr. Loren Clarke and Dr. Nicholas Kanaan. 

Saturday, Nov. 14: Understanding your health and celebrating community

Saturday begins with Vision2050’s Baseline testing program. The assessments are designed to help participants better understand their current health, establish personal benchmarks and identify areas that may warrant further attention.

In the evening, a Friendsgiving Feast will bring guests together over food, drinks and a shared purpose with profits benefitting the People’s Health Clinic in Park City. Then, attendees will hear from special guest Sean Swarner. After surviving two cancer diagnoses considered terminal and continuing on to summit Mount Everest, Swarner will share his remarkable story of resiliency, hope and finding possibility against extraordinary odds. 

The night will end with live music as the band Dirtwire takes the stage at the Prospector Theatre. 

For St. Simons, whose background includes 16 years in live music, concert promotion and festival production, bringing music into the weekend was a natural fit.

“Music gives people a reason to come together, let go and share something that stays with them,” St. Simons said. “We want the concert to be a highlight in its own right and an invitation into the wider weekend. You might come for Dirtwire and leave with a new connection, a new perspective or a reason to get more involved in your community.”

Sunday, Nov. 15: Explore the Wellness Trail

The Wellness Trail invites participants to explore local venues and practitioners through movement, recovery and social experiences. Activities include beginner-friendly padel, bodywork, mahjong, guided outdoor experiences and contrast therapy, with options in both Park City and Salt Lake City.

For the full program, ticket inclusions, current offers and individual experience bookings, visit vision2050pc.com.

A healthier future starts with community

For Heather and St. Simons, Vision2050 is about building something that can grow well beyond its inaugural weekend.

Through health education, personal assessments, music, outdoor experiences and meaningful social connections, Vision2050 is bringing together different elements of wellness under one larger idea: that living well should be something a community works toward together.

For a town where an active, outdoor lifestyle is already part of everyday life, Vision2050 represents an opportunity to take that commitment further—not just by helping residents stay active, but by helping them stay healthy enough to enjoy the things they love for years to come.