County Lands News - February 2026

Inside this email:

• 910 Ranch Officially Acquired

• Restrictions and Recreation Planning for the Ure Ranch

• Upcoming Events

• Conservation Easements 101

• Forest Management & Utah Resilience Fund

Director’s Message

Today, I get to share the kind of news that comes once in a lifetime, both for a community and for a career.

With immense pride and heartfelt gratitude, I’m thrilled to announce that Summit County has officially finalized the acquisition of the 910 Ranch. This is the largest conservation victory in our county’s history, and being able to play a role in it is something I will carry with me forever.

This purchase is more than a transaction. It’s the protection of 8,588 acres of extraordinary forestland, wildlife habitat, and living history It represents more than a decade of vision, persistence, and collaboration between a community that believes deeply in conservation and a landowner who chose legacy over profit and entrusted Summit County with something truly irreplaceable.

And while today we celebrate the accomplishment itself, I want to be equally clear that this is only the beginning of the work that matters most: shaping a future for the 910 Ranch that reflects the values and aspirations of our community. Although the county now owns the property, public access will remain closed until a formal Recreation Management Plan is complete. Your voice will be essential in determining how, and in what ways, this landscape will welcome public access, education, stewardship, and community connection in the years to come.

I am profoundly grateful to our residents who supported the open space bond, to our partners at FFSL and the U.S. Forest Service, to our Council for their leadership, and most of all, to the landowner who believed in this vision and placed his trust in us.

We now have the immense privilege and responsibility of stewarding one of the most remarkable landscapes in our region. I am excited, energized, and deeply humbled as we begin this next chapter together.

Thank you for your support, your passion, and your care for the places that make Summit County home. I cannot wait to continue this journey with you.

Jess Kirby
Director, Summit County Lands and Natural Resources

Ure Ranch Update

With the Ure Ranch now officially under County ownership, we want to share what this acquisition means, and — just as importantly — what it does not mean.

The property will be protected by conservation easements that safeguard its conservation values across different land use opportunities, including open space, agriculture, wildlife habitat, water quality, scenic landscapes, cultural resources, and public outdoor recreation.

Should Summit County ever choose to sell any portion of the property, it could only occur as a conservation sale. Any future owner would be legally required to comply with the existing conservation easement, which permanently prohibits subdivision and development regardless of who holds the land.

A portion of the Ure Ranch will remain working agriculture land leased to agricultural producers. Currently the entire property is leased back to the Ure Family until December 31, 2026.

Recreation planning is underway, with a thoughtful, phased approach. Additional public engagement will be announced through this newsletter and on our website.

910 Ranch Update

Summit County finalized the acquisition of the 910 Ranch on January 27, 2026. Read more about it here.

Upcoming Events

2/26 — 910 Ranch Recreation Master Plan Stakeholder Meeting

The goal of this session is to provide an update on our progress planning for open space and recreation on the recently acquired 910 Ranch. While this is not an official advisory board, transparency and inclusivity are very important to this process and we'll gather public comments during the first 30 minutes of each meeting.

• Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026

• Time: 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM (lunch provided)

• Location: Summit County Health Department - Downstairs Conference Room (650 Round Valley Dr, Park City)

3/8 — International Women’s Day Hike

Join us for a guided hike on the 910 Ranch to celebrate International Women’s Day. Directions and parking details will be provided upon RSVP.

• Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026

• Time: 1:00 – 4:00 PM

• Location: 910 Ranch (RSVP required)

3/10 — 910 Stakeholder Meeting #2

Follow-up to the information and planning session held on Feb. 26. Join us to stay in the know on the 910 Ranch Open Space and Recreation Master Plan.

• Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026

• Time: 2:30 – 5:00 PM

• Location: Summit County Health Department - Downstairs Conference Room (650 Round Valley Dr, Park City)

3/31 — 910 Stakeholder Meeting #3

Third and final stakeholder meeting for the 910 Ranch Open Space and Recreation Master Plan. As with the two previous meetings, public comments will be gathered in the first 30 minutes of the meeting.

• Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

• Time: 5:30 – 8:00 PM

• Location: Sheldon Richins Building - Large Auditorium (1885 W Ute Blvd, Park City)

4/21 — Public Open House: 910 Ranch Open Space and Recreation Master Plan

This is the public’s opportunity to provide additional feedback on the draft master plan for the 910 Ranch’s open space and recreation. See the work completed during the prior stakeholder meetings and view concepts for the ranch’s management.

• Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2026

• Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM

• Location: Sheldon Richins Building - Large Auditorium (1885 W Ute Blvd, Park City)

Open Space Bond Update

Our recording of the first Roots of Conservation education series, “Conservation Easements 101,” is now live!

Do you own land in Summit County and want to help preserve what makes our community special? Landowners can work with the County to conserve their property through a conservation easement or sell some or all of their land to the County for long-term protection as working agricultural land or public open space.

To be considered for potential funding through the Open Space Bond, review the project criteria on the OSAC website and fill out an NOI.

Stories of Forest Health Management

Our partners with the Watershed Restoration Initiative are teaming up with Cities4Forests to develop and expand the Utah Resilience Fund.

Watch their video (featuring our very own Lands & Natural Resources director) to learn more about the multiyear collaboration between local landowners, county and state agencies, and nonprofits to protect the health and safety of communities in the Weber River Headwaters.

Read their article to dive deeper into the history of wildfires in the region and to understand how stakeholders can mitigate the devastating economic and human toll of catastrophic fires while also creating more jobs, recreation, and water security.

Visit the project page to find more resources to support action. Their two fact sheets answer frequently asked questions on two topics: Forest Management in Northern Utah and the Utah Resilience Fund.

Summit County is planning a 2027 Wildfire Resilience Conference and invites interested partners, practitioners, and community members to complete an interest form to help shape the event. Click below to let us know you’re coming and share what topics you’d like the event to address!

Summit County acquires property and secures conservation easements for open space, conservation, and agricultural preservation. The County welcomes landowners to submit a Notice of Interest, or “NOI,” to have their property evaluated for possible qualified use of these Open Space Bond Funds. A NOI may only be completed by the property owner or an authorized representative. Find out more here.