A community survey conducted between May and July 2023 found that only 41% of Park County residents expressed optimism about the future, according to a report presented by the Park County Community Foundation. The findings, presented at the Livingston Depot Center on Oct. 4, 2023, highlighted significant local concerns regarding housing, economic development, and political divisions.
Widespread Community Concerns
According to the 2023 We Will Park County report, 34% of survey respondents reported feeling pessimistic about the future, while 25% remained neutral. The survey, which gathered responses from more than 850 people, indicated that 78% of respondents felt personally affected by the various challenges identified in the report.
Top Challenges Identified
Housing was identified by 74% of respondents as the greatest challenge facing the county. Growth was cited by 49% of participants, followed by infrastructure at 29% and political divisions at 22%. Mental health was also a significant concern for 22% of those surveyed, with 64% of those respondents stating that mental health issues were not being successfully addressed. Only 6% of respondents believed the county's challenges were being successfully managed, and just 16% believed residents would set aside political differences to work together.
Gateway Community Trends
Environmentalist Jordan Katcher, an adjunct instructor at the University of Utah and a member of the Gateway & Natural Amenity Region Initiative team sponsored by Utah State University, spoke about these findings during the Oct. 4, 2023, presentation. Katcher noted that gateway communities across the West are experiencing "big city challenges" in very small communities, specifically regarding housing, short-term rentals, and political divides.
Preserving Small-Town Character
Katcher observed that many communities are striving to avoid becoming the next major destination, such as Park City, Moab, or Bozeman, to preserve their small-town character. She noted that a 2022 survey funded by the National Institute for Transportation Communities showed that 78% of studied gateway communities expressed a strong desire to retain their small-town character.
Impact of Rapid Growth
The GNAR (Gateway & Natural Amenity Region) Initiative, a collaborative effort involving the University of Utah and Utah State University, has researched how rapid growth and increased tourism impact these regions. Research from the initiative suggests that growth in gateway communities—which constitute about 31% of all Western communities—often leads to increased housing prices and the displacement of local workforces to outlying areas.
The Spillover Effect
The GNAR initiative's research highlights a "rural gentrification" effect, where rising costs create large commuter sheds, resulting in longer commutes and higher transportation costs for the local workforce. This phenomenon is often expedited by the "Zoom Town" trend, where remote workers relocate from high-income urban areas to rural towns.
Paths to Optimism
Despite the reported pessimism, Katcher emphasized that the presence of organizations working toward the common good provides a basis for optimism. She noted that many communities across the West are currently navigating these challenges through innovative solutions.
