My wife and I discovered Park City in 2007 and were quickly awed by the beauty of the mountains, the spectacular views, wide open spaces, incredible wildlife and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. We became homeowners in 2009 in Old Town and, over the years, have become alarmed at the pace of development in the county, which is taking more land for residential and commercial building while encroaching on vital habitats for native animal and plant species and endangering the watershed that feeds the Great Salt Lake.We began donating to Summit Land Conservancy for their efforts to protect open spaces and educating ourselves on the issues involved in land preservation. We do understand the need for workforce housing as Summit County becomes more and more expensive to own or rent a home in and we support building more workforce housing so that those who work here in our schools, health clinics, police and emergency services, retail, restaurants, etc., can also live here. However we believe that allowing unchecked development will, frankly, destroy the incredible environment that makes Summit County so unique. That is why I will be voting for Ari Ioannides (R) and Roger Armstrong (D) for Summit County Council. As a lifelong Democrat, I never thought I would be voting for a Republican, but this issue is far too important for partisan politics. Ari has demonstrated a commitment to preserving outdoor space by donating the development rights to the Rocky Point Preserve to Summit Land Conservancy, thereby putting community ahead of personal financial gain. He will advocate for much needed land conservation initiatives and prioritize protecting the beauty that is Summit County outdoor space.Mark StutzmanPark CityThe post Open space No. 1 appeared first on Park Record.