Protecting Wildlife, Protecting People: A Decade of Progress—and the Road Ahead
2016
Standing Roadside for Change
Before studies and reports, there were people. Volunteers stood along I-80 near Jeremy Ranch holding banners, calling attention to the growing wildlife-vehicle collision crisis. The message resonated. Within days, the community raised $42,000—enough to install the first mile of wildlife fencing and push a stalled wildlife overpass project to the top of UDOT’s priority list.
2018
Proof That It Works
In December 2018, the Parleys Summit Wildlife Bridge officially opened. Wildlife began using it almost immediately. Since then, cameras have documented roughly 700 successful crossings per year, and collisions in the area dropped by over 80%. The bridge became living proof that smart infrastructure saves lives—and money.
2018 - 2023
Mile by Mile Progress
Through a cost-shared agreement with UDOT, SPSW and its donors funded wildlife fencing along I-80 one mile at a time. This grassroots commitment extended protections to critical habitat areas near Swaner Preserve and Bitner Ranch—until funding paused, leaving dangerous gaps still being addressed today.
2019 - Present
A New Focus: SR-224
As I-80 improvements advanced, SPSW shifted focus to SR-224—Park City’s eastern gateway and one of Utah’s most dangerous corridors for wildlife. Efforts included:
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Speed-limit reduction advocacy
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Illuminated wildlife warning signs
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Reflective wildlife silhouettes
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Community education and agency collaboration
In 2024 alone, SPSW documented 48 wildlife fatalities along just four miles of this roadway—underscoring the urgency of action.
2025
A Turning Point
In 2025, SPSW brought in Rock Design Associates, nationally recognized leaders in ecological infrastructure, to conduct an independent assessment of SR-224. Their Phase 1 Report provides a data-driven framework for action—starting with monitoring and driver awareness and scaling up to targeted fencing, detection systems, roadway modifications, and potential crossing structures if needed .
2026
Looking Ahead
In the year ahead, SPSW will:
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Advance design-ready solutions informed by Phase 1 findings
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Pursue funding for implementation projects
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Continue rebuilding and strengthening agency collaboration
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Prepare Park City’s roadways for increased traffic ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympics
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What began with handmade banners has become a replicable model for mountain communities nationwide.
This is what community advocacy looks like—when people refuse to accept tragedy as inevitable.