Snyderville Basin Cemetery District Moves Forward with New Preferred Site

Board members provide updates on progress and plans for the area's first public cemetery

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The effort to create the Snyderville Basin Cemetery District's first public cemetery is progressing, with a new preferred site announced in December. The district board has been discussing the project with county officials, local agencies, property owners, and other stakeholders. An outside consultant's marketing study and a presentation to the Summit County Council are upcoming as the board prepares to acquire land and apply for a conditional use permit.

Why it matters

The creation of a public cemetery in the Snyderville Basin is an important community initiative, as the existing Park City Cemetery is reserved only for those who have lived in the municipality. The new cemetery is intended to serve the broader Snyderville Basin area and provide a peaceful memorial space that can also host community gatherings and passive recreation.

The details

The board's initial preferred site along Olympic Parkway faced opposition from community members who were concerned about impacts to recreational activities and the visual appearance of the area. In response, the board selected a new preferred location at the corner of S.R. 224 and Bear Cub Drive, which they describe as less controversial yet still well-suited for the district's needs. The proposed layout includes burial plots, memorial gardens, cremation areas, parking, and a 3,000-square-foot community building.

  • In December 2025, the Snyderville Basin Cemetery District announced a new preferred site for the cemetery.
  • In February 2026, the district board provided an update on the cemetery's progress to the Summit County Council.
  • On March 18, 2026, the district board will make a presentation on the cemetery project at a joint meeting with the Summit County Council.
  • On Wednesday, March 19, 2026, the district board will discuss their next steps at their regular board meeting.
  • The district is expecting to receive an initial report on an outside consultant's marketing study in the near future.

The players

Pete Gillwald

A landscape architect and member of the Snyderville Basin Cemetery District board.

Max Greenhalgh

The chair of the Snyderville Basin Cemetery District board.

Snyderville Basin Cemetery District

The local government entity tasked with providing one or more public cemeteries to benefit residents of the Snyderville Basin area.

Summit County Council

The local governing body that appointed the members of the Snyderville Basin Cemetery District board.

Park City Cemetery

The existing cemetery in the area that is reserved for residents of the Park City municipality.

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What they’re saying

“We've looked at over 20 different parcels that are owned by the county and we've been vetting them and discarding the ones that don't work for us.”

— Pete Gillwald, Landscape architect and Snyderville Basin Cemetery District board member (parkrecord.com)

“It is a peaceful retreat that offers our citizens and guests opportunities for community gatherings, public art, and passive recreation, while serving as a place of respectful visitation to honor and memorialize the citizens that lived here and helped make our community great!”

— Snyderville Basin Cemetery District (parkrecord.com)

What’s next

The Snyderville Basin Cemetery District board will discuss their next steps at their regular board meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 2026. They are also expecting to receive an initial report on an outside consultant's marketing study in the near future.

The takeaway

The creation of a public cemetery in the Snyderville Basin is a significant community initiative that has faced some challenges, but the district board is making progress in identifying a suitable site and engaging with stakeholders. The goal is to establish a peaceful memorial space that can serve the broader community's needs while also providing opportunities for gatherings and passive recreation.