Protecting Park City's Wildlife: How a $50,000 Gift Brings Us One Step Closer to preventing wildlife vehicle collisions along SR 224
- Kelsey Miklavcic
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Big news, Park City! We’re thrilled to share that the John C. Kish Foundation has stepped up in a big way with a generous $50,000 donation to Save People Save Wildlife (SPSW). This incredible gift will allow us to take a huge step forward in our mission to protect both the wildlife that call Park City home as well as the people who travel on SR 224.
This funding will support the first phase of an independent engineering assessment by Rock Design Associates, a nationally and internationally recognized firm known for creating innovative solutions that balance human development with environmental sustainability. Their expertise will help us determine the most appropriate, evidence-based solutions that will remedy the problem of the rising frequency of wildlife vehicle collisions along State Route 224 (SR 224) — a vital project that could save countless lives, both animal and human.
Why an objective assessment matters...
If you’ve ever driven SR 224, you know how breathtaking the landscape is — and how heartbreaking it is to see the results of vehicle wildlife collisions.
SR 224 is a major corridor for both people and wildlife, and it is becoming an increasingly dangerous roadway for our resident wildlife. Each year, dozens of deer, elk, and moose are hit and killed by vehicles along this route. These collisions don’t just harm wildlife — they also put drivers and passengers at serious risk.
“The need to address the problem of wildlife vehicle collisions along SR 224 has never been more urgent,” said Lorelei Combs, Vice President of Save People Save Wildlife. “With increasing traffic and shrinking habitat, wildlife in Park City face growing challenges. This first phase of this project will help preserve the balance between human development and wildlife conservation that defines the character of our community.”
A Major Step Forward, Thanks to the John C. Kish Foundation
This generous gift from the John C. Kish Foundation bolsters the broad community support that our donors continue to provide for the first phase of this critical engineering assessment — the first step toward making SR 224 safer for both wildlife and people.
"We are proud to support Save People Save Wildlife in their efforts to protect Park City's unique wildlife and improve safety for everyone traveling along SR 224," said Melina Nicolatus, Trustee of the John C. Kish Foundation. "This project reflects our core values of environmental stewardship and community safety, and we’re honored to play a part in helping bring it to life.”
How You Can Help...
This $50,000 gift is a huge step forward — but we’re not done yet. Engineering assessments are just the beginning. To fully fund the evidence based solutions determined, we will continue to rely on the support of our entire community.
Your donation can directly help make this project a reality. Every dollar gets us closer to implementing expert recommended solutions to make SR 224 safer for everyone—wildlife and humans alike. Make a donation today and be part of this transformative project. Together, we can protect Park City’s wildlife and make our roads safer. Thank you for giving our wildlife a voice!