Diego Zegarra watched the lodging prices dip as the Winter Olympics in Italy approached. The drop by January was enough that the first-term member of the Park City Council booked a trip. He traveled to the Games as a private citizen but also made observations that will help shape his views as th e municipal government continues the early work toward the 2034 Winter Olympics. Zegarra had never been to a Winter Olympics or a Summer Olympics. He was in Italy for eight days, spending four nights in the host city of Milan and several days in the area of the Alpine community of Cortina d’Ampezzo during the first half of the Games before ending the trip in Venice. Cortina d’Ampezzo was of special interest to officials from the municipal government since it is a prominent mountain resort with similarities to Park City. Zegarra traveled at his own expense and was not part of the municipal government’s official delegation to the Games. He attended women’s curling competitions in Cortina d’Ampezzo, a women’s hockey game in Milan and women’s speedskating races in Milan. He compared the travel from his outlying lodging to Cortina d’Ampezzo to the time and distance between Park City and Evanston, Wyoming, “plus throw a mountain pass in the middle.” Zegarra said the experiences in Italy reinforced the idea that Park City needs to ensure it finishes any large capital projects, such as transportation improvements, before the Games in 2034 open. Park City sees opportunities to secure Games-related federal monies to fund projects in coming years. “We have to be certain we execute these large infrastructure projects on time,” Zegarra said, noting transportation concepts like a dedicated bus lane along the S.R. 248 entryway. He also said he wants the Games of 2034 to advance the community’s sustainability efforts. Zegarra said he hopes there are no “white elephant projects” at the Winter Olympic locations. Zegarra took office in early January and his term runs through the first days of 2030. The municipal government during the term is expected to make significant progress on the Games work and related infrastructure. The elected officials in that time will likely render decisions regarding projects that will be pursued before 2034 as well as weigh options for the community’s role in the event itself. The Park City area is critical to the overall Games, as was the case during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Park City Mountain, Deer Valley Resort and the Utah Olympic Park are identified as competition venues. The community will also be a key to the transportation, security and celebration plans. The event in Italy was the first chance for Park City officials and others from the state to study the operations of a Winter Olympics since the Games were awarded in 2024. Four of the six elected officials in Park City — Zegarra, Mayor Ryan Dickey, City Councilor Tana Toly and City Councilor Bill Ciraco — traveled to the Games either individually or as part of the official delegation. Park City and Summit County leaders in early March convened to share observations from the Games in Italy and discuss potential upcoming steps as both government institutions address the planning for the Winter Olympics in eight years. The post Park City councilor returns from Winter Olympics stressing need to finish infrastructure in time for 2034 appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less