Park City residents who want to deepen their ties to local government and community life have until Friday, August 21, to apply for Leadership Park City's 33rd class, a free yearlong program that has graduated more than 900 people since the 1990s.

Director Scott van Hartesvelt said on KPCW's Local News Hour on Monday, July 27, that a committee of alumni selects each class based on more than résumé lines.

"They're probably slightly impressed with your professional accomplishments," van Hartesvelt said. "They are more impressed with the way in which you demonstrate that you want to be a constructive member of this community, that you've taken steps to [be] a constructive member of this community."

The program combines monthly workshops on state and local issues with leadership training, community projects, and networking. Class 33 begins in October.

Survey shows sharp gains

Leadership Park City released results from a survey it conducted in 2025. Among respondents, the share who reported feeling confident speaking publicly jumped from 53% before the program to 100% afterward. Participants' sense of belonging rose from 34% to 88%, and understanding of local government climbed from 19% to 94%.

Cost and financial aid

Tuition is free. Participants are expected to cover a $1,200 multi-day trip to a comparable city to study how that community addresses issues Park City also faces. Financial assistance is available, according to van Hartesvelt.

Projects with lasting impact

Each class completes a community project. The most prominent example: the Summit Land Conservancy, which originated in a Leadership Park City class and was formally founded in 1998. The conservancy now holds 63 permanent conservation easements protecting more than 25,000 acres of open space in and around Park City, according to van Hartesvelt.

More recent projects include the "belonging benches" installed last year and the Summit County mural project completed this year, van Hartesvelt said.

How to apply

Van Hartesvelt took over as director from founder Myles Rademan in 2024. Applications and program details are available at parkcity.gov. The deadline is Friday, August 21, with the class starting in October.