Park City's more than 700 senior center members are a step closer to a new home nearly five times the size of their current building.

The full City Council gave staff consensus direction to proceed with a 15,000-square-foot, two-story senior center with 52 parking spaces at the Thursday, July 9, work session. Matt Lee, economic development project manager, and Chris Eggleton of the Economic Development and Housing Department presented the design, which includes 8,800 square feet on the ground floor and 6,200 square feet on the second level.

The new building would occupy the Mawhinney lot across Park Avenue from the Park City Library and replace the existing 3,200-square-foot center on Woodside Avenue. The 15,000-square-foot design carries a projected cost of about $16.6 million, according to a March 2026 Park Record report.

Lee told the Council that design work still underway includes utility needs, road access, a plat amendment, and a right-of-way vacation. He estimated the design would be completed by fall 2026, after which the project would advance to the Planning Commission. Lee said he hoped construction would begin in spring 2027. A March 2026 timeline projected the building could open by fall 2028; staff did not update that estimate at the July 9 session.

Council Member Jeremy Parigian raised concerns about the 52-space parking count and asked staff to prepare a contingency plan for adding spaces if demand exceeds capacity. Lee said additional parking could be added but would require a separate application. Parigian also requested a light-colored exterior and windows on each wall. Council Member Tana Toly asked that the building be designed for shade.

"This project had been in front of Council 17 times and the seniors had spread the word about the project around town," Toly said during the work session.

Eggleton told the Council that visitors would enter from 12th Street and Sullivan Road, and that the city's mobility bus would stop at the center. He added that Summit County is collaborating on the project and participating in the design process. Seth Striefel of Sparano + Mooney Architecture, the firm designing the building, said the roof area could accommodate an expanded deck, though occupancy would be limited.

Council Member Miller suggested a communications plan for the project, and Council Member Ciraco requested a materials board when the schematic design returns to Council for approval.

Membership at the senior center has grown sharply. Executive Director Trason Dixon said in a February 2026 Chamber of Commerce profile that the center has more than 700 members, up from about 70 in 2020. At the June 25 Council meeting, Craig Weakley, a Park City Seniors Board Member, thanked the Council and staff for including capital and operating funding for the senior center in the FY2027 budget.

The project next goes to the Planning Commission for conditional use permit and master planned development review. No hearing date has been announced. Residents can attend Council meetings at the Marsac Municipal Building, 445 Marsac Ave., or watch online.