Park City & Deer Valley

Additional Nighttime Ski Runs to Come!

Construction on New Lights Begins in August 2010

Wednesday's Planning Commission approved a Conditional Use Permit for Park City Mountain Resort that will allow the construction of additional lighting on three of the resort's ski runs. Park City Mountain Resort will install lights on the Three Kings, Quicksilver and Pick-n-Shovel ski runs to expand night skiing options beginning this winter season, according to the Park City Planning Commission staff report.

Construction on the new lighting will begin after renovations to current lighting are completed. Planning Department staffer, Jacquelyn Mauer, said the 1,500 watt bulbs currently in the lights on the Pay Day ski run are being replaced with 150 watt metal halide lights that will save nearly 138 million kilowatts a year. With this renovation, Park City Mountain Resort will save money and will reduce light pollution caused by the higher watt bulbs. She said adding, the new lights on all four ski runs will be comparable to the current night ski area lighting and will be a white light.

The approved lighting renovations expand the resort's night skiing area by 23 percent, from 44.5 to 54.7 acres, said the staff report. The lights will comply with land management codes and no complaints were lodged against the project at the Park City's Planning Commission's public hearing.

The project includes 49 new wood poles with 76 new metal halide lights, with the majority of the poles standing 40 feet tall and the tallest pole at 45 feet. The lights will be shielded to diret all light downwards, the staff report said, and no light will pass the horizontal.

"We're happy with the decision and how [the new lights] will improve the night skiing that we offer," said Jenni Smith, President and General Manager of Park City Mountain Resort.

The approved hours of operation for the lights will be from sundown to 10:00pm, starting December 15thth and ending April 1st, 2010.

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

by Zach Murdock RECORD INTERN  : The Park Record