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This year marks Summit Land Conservancy’s 20th Anniversary as Park City’s local land trust–- 20 years of saving the landscapes that are the heart of our community. The first 20 years of forever…
To honor the places we have protected, we will highlight and share some of the stories about these precious lands and how the Conservancy has grown over the years.
Gambel Oak is a 225 acre property that boasts natural and undeveloped ridgelines and hillsides visible from Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort, Old Town, Prospector, Park Meadows and Highway 248. The land is home to a variety of wildlife and diverse vegetation-- especially stands of the irregular and crooked gambel oak tree. Non-motorized trails are accessible from the surrounding neighborhoods which also connect to the greater Park City trails system. Gambel Oak is used as a natural public park area, and it is the perfect place for a picnic where you can soak in the views.
“Park City Municipal acquired the Gambel Oak open space through a series of transactions which included a transfer of land from the federal BLM, and buying mining rights with open space bond funds. By 2013, the ownership was consolidated and the Conservancy began working with the City on the conservation easement.
Every time the Conservancy accepts a new conservation easement, we are required by national accreditation standards to put aside money (a stewardship fund) to make sure that we can visit the property each year and defend, if needed, the conservation values that the easement is meant to protect. The Conservancy uses a tool that evaluates the potential difficulties of stewardship and defense. Size is sometimes a consideration, but so is surrounding land uses and whether or not there is public access.
The Conservancy met with several April Mountain neighbors and discussed the need to raise stewardship funding. One neighbor, Steve Joyce, offered to write a letter to all the area homeowners asking them to support our efforts to see this land permanently conserved. Another neighbor, Shari Gottlieb helped get the letters printed, addressed, and stamped.
The neighbors responded generously! Within a few months, the Conservancy had raised half of the needed funds. The City agreed to supply the rest. The easement was signed in December 2014 by Park City Mayor, Jack Thomas.
Here at the Conservancy, we remain grateful to the many friends we met as we worked together to ensure that the moose, the hawks, the little yellow avalanche lilies and the lichen-crusted old oaks of Gambel Oak, enjoy the permanent protection of a conservation easement. Many of those donors have continued to support the Conservancy’s ongoing efforts and were instrumental in our ability to help save Bonanza Flat, the Osguthorpe Farm on Old Ranch Road, and more. Both Steve Joyce and Shari Gottlieb eventually joined the Summit Land Conservancy’s Board of Directors.
We so often enjoy our shared open spaces alone, or with just one or two trusted companions. But in fact, the land draws us together, introducing neighbors to each other, and building lasting relationships. These relationships brighten our beautiful Park City days."
Learn more about the Conservancy’s work and how you can save the lands and waters you cherish at www.wesaveland.org.
Photo Courtesy of Eric Erlenbusch
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