Park City Environmental Preparation for 2002 Olympics

CRM is working with the community of Park City, Utah to help prepare for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. The Center was asked to help prepare an evaluation of the community’s environmental strengths and weaknesses, to identify environmental "success stories", and to make suggestions regarding environmental initiatives that could be undertaken in preparation for the Games, or as legacy projects to strengthen the community after the Games. The Center has focused on the various resources in the community, i.e. energy, water, air, open space, wildlife, etc. and also on the quality of the city’s infrastructure in areas like transportation, waste management, and green design. The short-term purpose of this project is to help Park City respond to the many inquiries expected from citizens and press. The long-term purpose of the project is to strengthen the community’s understanding and appreciation of its environmental issues, including its strengths and weaknesses, and to make improvements that will help it cope with the rapid growth it is now experiencing. Finally, Park City hopes to ensure that one of the legacies of the 2002 Winter Olympics will be better local and regional environmental management systems.