Park City Nonprofit Highlight: Park City Education Foundation

May 16, 2018 by Molly Miller, Colony PR

Park City Nonprofits Provide Support For Any Need

Here in Park City, we have more than 100 nonprofits whose work spans the spectrum of support. From providing things like basic human needs (The Hope Alliance), to access to sport and recreation opportunities for Latino children in our community (The Solomon Fund), to maintenance and upkeep for the trails you bike on and hike with your pup (Mountain Trails Foundation), our nonprofits are committed to making lives in our community better in every single way.

Park City Education Foundation

Among the most spectacular nonprofits in our community is one which works day-in and day-out to provide capital to “go beyond what public education provides to meet the needs of our students, teachers, and community.” The nonprofit spotlight today is on the Park City Education Foundation.

In existence since 1986, PCEF has worked to support and advance academics and student success in the Park City School District in the areas of Academic Success, College and Career Readiness, Early Childhood Education, Professional Development for Teachers, STEM, Student Wellness, and the Arts.

In 2016-2017 alone, PCEF committed $1.5 million in funding to these areas. The Foundation provides 100% of PCSD’s discretionary budget, and PCEF programs reach every single one of our districts 5,000 students.

Here’s a look at PCEF’s impact, broken out into those seven areas of support.

Academic Success

College and Career Readiness

Early Childhood Education

Professional Development for Teachers

STEM

Student Wellness

Arts

How To Get Connected: Running With Ed (RWE)

This race is a win for everyone!
(Photo courtesy of the Park City Education Foundation.)

This weekend, Park City Education Foundation facilitates one of its largest events of the year – Running With Ed. The 9th annual 38-mile relay gets underway on Saturday, May 19. The race is run by teams, in 10 legs, and crosses the entirety of Park City, on trails, pavement, with climbing and quick downhills. There are easy legs and tough ones, and they’ll take you past Olympic venues, iconic landmarks, neighborhood schools, and historic Main Street.

While it’s too late to get a team registered (bookmark it for next year!), you can still sign up to volunteer, donate to your favorite team, and, of course, show up to cheer for the runners! The course begins between 8 and 9:30 a.m., at Newpark Field House in Kimball Junction. From there, teams head to Jeremy Ranch, Ecker Hill, the Utah Olympic Park, Park City Mountain’s Canyons Village, Parley’s Park, Park City Mountain Village, McPolin, Treasure Mountain, Trailside, and then back to Newpark. Whew! Plenty of opportunities to cheer our community on!

Best of luck to all of the runners!

Support PCEF All Year Long

While RWE is one of PCEF’s largest fundraising events, there are many other ways for people to give. From the Give $180 campaign, to the Scholar Circle, to Men4Ed, to the Red Apple Gala, any philanthropic contribution you provide is sure to enrich the lives of children attending Park City schools. If it means more to you to get out and get involved, there are dozens of volunteer opportunities throughout the year. However you show your support, your efforts make a difference!

…

Have a favorite Park City nonprofit you’d like highlighted? Email us: Molly@thecolonywpc.com.

Park City Event Guide: May 11-13, 2018

May 11, 2018 by Molly Miller, Colony PR

Park City Event Guide, May 11 – 13

This weekend, we celebrate the women who raised us! (If you’re in need of brunch options, look no further than this list, courtesy of Park City Magazine.)

SHOP (FOR A CAUSE)

Girls’ Night Out
Friday, May 11: 4 – 8PM

Shop for your mom, with your mom, or with your girlfriends – all for a good cause. Your $10 donation will go to The Christian Center of Park City’s Back-to-School Basics event, which provides hundreds of children in our own community with $100 to buy clothes they need to head back to school.

As a thank you for your donation, you’ll get a tote filled with discounts, a voucher for dinner at Salty Pineapple or Fry Me To The Moon, selfie station photo ops, in-store activities, and other surprise perks! If you plan to attend, be sure to REGISTER ONLINE.

DO

Saturday Morning Nature Walk
Saturday, May 12: 8:30 – 10AM

Explore the Swaner Preserve wetlands with a guide. You’ll learn about the wonders of the wetlands, native plant and animal species, and the history of the Swaner Preserve. Keep your eyes peeled for an abundance of birds, elk or even nesting sandhill cranes.

Beautify Park City
Saturday, May 12: 9AM – Noon
Events are family-friendly; work gloves and bags will be provided. Bring a water bottle, sturdy closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

PRIDE IN YOUR PARK CLEANUP
Join a crew to pick up trash and recyclables in the city parks, waterways, roadsides, and fields.
Meet at City Park Bandstand | 1354 Park Avenue

ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING
Help us celebrate our 25th year as a Tree City! Each participant will receive a free tree seedling to take home.
Meet at Prospector Park | 2500 Wyatt Earp Way

Young Bike Riders Swap
Saturday, May 12: 8AM – 5PM
Sunday, May 13: 11AM – 3PM

The Young Riders Bike Swap serves a couple of different purposes. For some, it’s to snag a bike. For others, it’s to get rid of all the old equipment in our garages. Proceeds raised help fund the Young Riders organization, which was “founded in 1996 as a way to keep kids happy and healthy when the snow melts.” Happening at The YARD, 1251 Kearns Blvd. May is National Bike Month and Park City has a plethora of ways for you to enjoy it!

READ

“Park City Hiking Guide”
Park City is home to one of the most incredible trail systems in the world, and a new guide has just been published to help you navigate them. There are maps and directions for 45 hikes in the “Park City Hiking Guide,” written by Park City local Beverly Hurwitz, a physician and a lifelong hiker.

Paths through Park City Mountain are included in the book, among other areas in town. Also included: info on trail etiquette, hiker safety and first aid. A perfect gift for locals and guests alike! The book is available at Dolly’s Bookstore, Cole Sport, The Market at Park City, Right at home, Switchback Sports, J.W. Allen & Sons Toy Store, and Amazon.

WATCH

Cheerleaders vs. Aliens → World Premiere by YouTheater at Egyptian Theatre
Friday, May 11: 7PM
Saturday, May 12: 2 & 7PM

Aliens invade a small town and abduct the high school football team to harvest their brain jelly, and no one steps up to save them — except the Greenville High School Cheerleading Squad. Rhymes, cartwheels, and glitter contribute to the save-the-day fun.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Savor the Summit: This event fills up quickly, so be sure to reserve your spots now for Park City’s Largest Outdoor Dinner Party! This year, join 2500 other diners on Saturday, June 16 for an open-air community celebration on Main Street.

Big Stars Bright Nights: Tickets are now available for purchase for the 15th consecutive season of outdoor concerts from Park City Institute and St. Regis. Shows this year include Los Lonely Boys, Grace Potter, and Bruce Hornsby and The Noisemakers.

Deer Valley Concert Series: Tickets for the inaugural series go on sale Friday, May 11. The five-show series will include shows from The Decemberists, Gavin DeGraw, and Jason Mraz. It joins the two concert series events already held at Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater; the Deer Valley Music Festival and the (free) Grand Valley Bank Community Concert Series.

Park City Celebrates: May is National Bike Month

May 10, 2018 by Molly Miller, Colony PR

With more than 400 miles of single-track trail in Park City, mountain biking here is among the best in the world, for any level of rider. And, if you’re not a mountain biker – or are simply looking to ratchet up your rotation opportunities – you can also enjoy mile after mile of multi-use track on a road bike – or an e-bike!

And, because May is national bike month, there are a number of unique opportunities for you to pedal the Park City paths over the next few weeks. (Photo courtesy: Park City Mountain)

National Bike to Work Week is May 14 – 18

Biking gets you out into our fresh mountain air, and – bonus! – The League of American Bicyclists says commuting on your bike burns an average of 540 calories an hour. And, if you were to switch to biking to get to work on the regular, you’d save about 66 gallons of fuel per year.

Park City’s Bike to School Day is May 18

On Friday, May 18, our entire community comes together for Bike to Work, School and Play Day. The main morning gathering happens at Park City High School, where there will be breakfast, a bike wash, bike safety information and even bike tune-ups.

Students riding bikes to school get police escorts, and all kids and the community are invited to enjoy activities like helmet fittings, bike safety demos, and BBQs – held throughout the day at McPolin, Parley’s Park, Jeremy Ranch, and Trailside elementary schools.

The entire Park City community is invited to bike to school, work, and play on May 18.

E-Biking | Summit Bike Share

The Summit Bike Share is also inviting you to hit Park City’s trails for bike month (e-bikes are permitted on all paved multi-use paths and soft-surface trails wider than 5 feet). The goal of the Bike Share, which is a joint effort between Summit County and Park City, is to offer a great 24/7 transit option for residents and visitors to explore the city. And the best news – all bikes are e-bikes. This means you still get to pedal, but electric-assist will automatically kick in on the hills. Since its inception last year, more than 35,000 miles have been biked!

There are tons of ways to celebrate National Bike Month in Park City.

To celebrate Bike Month, you’re welcome to give Bike Share a 45-minute whirl for FREE on May 15 and 16, thanks to Bewegen, Summit County, Park City, and the Park City Chamber of Commerce.

To participate, download the Summit Bike Share app.

Mountain Biking in Park City

While Park City’s hundreds of miles of single-track are extremely popular, it’s rare for a trail to ever be crowded (there are some exceptions, of course, but there are plenty of options for solitude). Mountain bikers of all levels can enjoy more than 20 miles of cross-country trails through Park City Mountain (including our favorite, the Mid Mountain Trail, which runs right here through The Colony at White Pine Canyon!), with some support to make logistics as easy as possible. You can buy Gondola and bike haul tickets at the Activities Center in Canyons Village, and bike rentals are available in both villages.

Park City has been named a gold-level Ride Center by the International Mountain Biking Association. According to the website, this is “IMBA’s recognition of large-scale mountain bike facilities that offer something for every rider… From expert-only to family-friendly, you’ll be able to ride for days and encounter the best mountain biking has to offer.”

We think that description is right on the money – and you hit one of our Park City trails, we bet you’ll agree!

Road Biking in Park City

Park City, where the Tour of Utah starts and finishes, is full of options for road bikers.

Road biking in Park City isn’t limited to professional cyclists (though we can understand why it seems intimidating – the Tour of Utah does begin and end here, after all). Our town is an incredibly fun place for experts and novices alike to enjoy some road bike loops. If you need a bit of assistance getting started, White Pine Touring has you covered with rentals and guided tours.

Enjoy the Ride

Whether you prefer gliding past the white barn or white-knuckling through the Wasatch Back, there is an option that suits your needs for riding a bike in Park City. During national bike month, we sure hope you take some time to enjoy it! Be sure to share your biking pics on Instagram and Facebook using the #ParkCity and #BikeMonth hashtags.

Summer Gear Guide

April 27, 2018 by Colony PR

Ready to hit the trail this spring, but need a few upgrades? Aiming to take on a new sport? Park City has a plethora of outdoor shops to outfit you for your next adventure.

A teenage boy fly fishes in a river outside Park City, Utah.

Trout Bum 2
4343 UT-224 (In between Canyons and Kimball Jct)
A local fly shop who can outfit you with license, waders, rods, reels and everything else for a day on the river. Trout Bum 2 also offers a guide service, so you don’t waste time looking for a hatch.

–

Jans Mountain Recreation Experts
1600 Park Avenue
One of the go-to ski shops in winter switches gears during warmer weather to bikes and fly fishing gear. In addition, you’ll also find a wide selection of camping, trail running and associated accessories for your outdoor pursuits.
jans.com

–

Cole Sport
1615 Park Avenue
Cole’s flagship location on Park Ave sports a wide selection of bike gear, including one of the state’s largest rental fleets of both road and mountain bikes.

–

Park City Bike Demos
1500 Kearns Blvd
Sporting over 100 hand-picked demos, this is the place for bike nerds and those who want a high-end ride. The best part? PC Bike Demos allow users to test as many bikes as you wish on a trail or on the road and apply up to $600 of rental fees towards a final purchase.

–

Backcountry.com
This online retailer has nearly every piece of gear for every outdoor pursuit imaginable. Plus, their online gearhead chat is staffed by experts in each area to make sure you get the right product.

–

Switchback Sports
1685 Bonanza Dr
Pick up used bikes and other outdoor items on consignment, which includes camping gear, hiking, and golf equipment. Great option for kids who beat up gear before they grow out of it.

–

Tanger Outlets
The outlet malls over in Kimball does not always come to mind when thinking outdoor sports, but you will find a wide range of apparel from Pearl Izumi, Colombia, Under Armour, Zumiez, Volcom, NIKE, and Adidas.

Park City Event Guide: April 13-15 2018

April 13, 2018 by Colony PR

SEE: Wild Encounters: Photography by David Yarrow

Wild Encounters is a must-see for nature lovers, conservationists, photographers and anyone who is inspired by all that remains wild.

Yarrow’s photographs offer an intimate view of some of the world’s most compelling—and threatened—species, capturing the splendor and very soul of what remains wild and free in our world through portraits that feel close enough to touch.

Swaner Eco Center
Through May 13

HEAR: Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels

Devil With a Blue Dress On? That’s the hit! Ryder brings his classic tune to Park City, along with other songs that stretch from his soul-man Motown roots through R&B, gritty rock, to a bluesy funk groove.

Friday & Saturday – 8 PM

Egyptian Theatre

If punk is more your speed, The English Beat plays OP Rockwell Saturday, April 14th.

WATCH: Park City Film Series

Mud season can’t slow down the PC Film Series. Three showings of Journeys End, an intelligent, meticulously crafted drama about British soldiers in the trenches of World War I, plays the Jim Santy Auditorium Friday – Sunday.

Tales of the Night, presented in French with English subtitles, take viewers on a global journey this Saturday as part of the Foreign Cinema…For Kids! Program.

DO: Golf Season

One of the advantages of Park City life is the ability to play sports from multiple seasons back-to-back – sometimes even on the same day. 36 holes are open at Mountain Dell in Parleys Canyon (I-80) – conveniently located on the way to or from Salt Lake, should you want to dust off the skis for some morning powder in the Cottonwoods, and hit the links in the afternoon. We call it the Utah biathlon.

Stay tuned to the blog for a golf guide to the Park City area, as well as other spring and summer activities.

Closing Day: April 8th, 2018

April 6, 2018 by Colony PR

The last day on skis, when the lifts spin for the final time, might seem like sad day, but at Park City, it’s more like an on-mountain party. Spring is just ahead with flowers blooming and wildlife sightings, as well as summer hiking, biking and golf – speaking which, stay tuned next week for more on these topics – but saying goodbye for a final time to winter calls for a celebration.

Both Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort plan to close April 8, with several fun events planned. Deer Valley’s closing weekend will feature several live music options, including Lash LaRue and Muddpuddle.

Find the lineup deervalley.com.

Park City Resort hosts one of the most unique parties on Saturday, April 7 – the annual Pond Skimming competition. Contestants don costumes, gather some speed downhill and attempt to cross a near-freezing pond. Most do not make it, leading to roars of laughter from the crowd!

Catch live music, the Thin Air Innovation Festival and more throughout closing weekend at Park City.

All events can be found here.

Thin Air Concert

Deer Valley Resort, in conjunction with Park City Mountain, will host the third annual Thin Air Concert on Main Street. The show will feature Citizen Cope, (a.k.a. Clarence Greenwood). Cope’s music is an eclectic mix of rock, blues, hip-hop, and folk influences that fuse together to form a unique, soulful sound. For Thin Air 2018, he’s bringing along an ensemble of musicians for an amazing night of acoustic-driven rock. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. on lower Main Street.

More skiing

If you are still jonesing for a few more turns, Alta and Solitude both stay open until April 15, Brighton is planning on April 22, while Snowbird intends to stay open as long as they have snow – some years well into May or June.

Epic Pass

It’s never too early to think about next year, and the Epic Pass in on sale already. The Epic Pass will cost $899 and is the best way for Utah skiers and riders to access Park City Mountain’s 348 trails all season long. If you are OK with blackout dates and other limitations, the Epic Locals Pass is available for $669.

There were several upgrades to the Epic Pass as well, including the addition (with limited access) to Telluride in Colorado, Hakuba Valley in Japan and Resorts of the Canadian Rockies across Canada, bringing The Epic Pass to now offer access to a total of 61 resorts worldwide.

Passes can be purchased at EpicPass.com

IKON Pass

With Deer Valley’s sale and acquisition, the newly formed Alterra resort group has introduced the IKON Pass for their family of resorts, which includes Deer Valley, AltaSnowbird, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Aspen & more.

Offered at two different levels, either $599 or $899, unlimited skiing is available at about a dozen resorts, plus either five or seven days at the rest of the participating 26 worldwide resorts.

More information is available at ikonpass.com