The rumble of concrete and dump trucks shuttling to and from worksites throughout Park City each summer isn’t talked about as frequently as the town’s pristine mountain air, singletrack trails and outdoor dining, but it’s an undeniable part of the summer soundtrack. With much of the world is bracing for a long recovery once the coronavirus pandemic is brought to heel—Park City officials are among those forecasting difficult months to come—some of us anticipated a brief respite as large-scale projects were delayed and reconsidered. Still, the perpetual churn of development in Park City continues amid a stalled economy with little certainty about how the future will unfold.

Few suitable development sites remain as decades of infill and conservation efforts have accounted for most land in the area. Four major projects—construction of the new Mayflower Mountain Resort on U.S. 40, development the Park City Mountain base area lots, development of Deer Valley’s Snow Park lots, and the creation of an Arts and Culture District near Bonanza Drive and Kearns Boulevard—will dictate Park City’s landscape going forward, but economic turmoil threatens to alter how some of those may take shape.

Across from the Jordanelle Reservoir, construction is moving ahead on Mayflower Mountain Resort. Contractors have returned to the site to continue work on the Military Wellness and Recreations Hotel (MWR)—a centerpiece of the new development—a 1.2-million-gallon water tank, roads, retaining walls and the voluntary cleanup program, which will control erosion to the area during and after construction. Though construction has resumed, challenges remain including a shortage of lending capital and the lack of a long-term agreement between Deer Valley and Extell to allow joint skiing operations between the two resorts.

Back in town, PEG Companies, the Provo-based firm intending to purchase and develop the Park City Mountain base area lots, met with the Park City Planning Commission this week to outline the scope of their project. PEG is operating within the bounds of an existing approval from the 1990s, but significant debate over how the ambitious plan will impact traffic and surrounding neighborhoods remains, with the possibility an entirely new master plan will be deemed necessary. Public input is considered essential in the process and final decision, but the inability to hold in-person meetings is a hindrance. Planning Commission Meetings will be available on the City Hall Website for those who want to stay informed and be involved.

Meanwhile, Park City Council members Becca Gerber and Tim Henney suggested reassessing the feasibility of the current plan for the upcoming Park City Arts and Culture District. The expected dearth of tax revenue is a major obstacle to what is an enormous undertaking for the municipal government. Developing the Arts and Culture District is a major step towards diversifying a local economy that has been inextricably tied to the ski industry, which is likely to be increasingly important amid an ongoing pandemic. No decisions have been made yet, but what the project looks like after upcoming budget discussions will impact the look of town for years to come.

There’s no news on the development of the Snow Park lots at Deer Valley at this point, but it’s it’d be foolish to assume it won’t be impacted in some way by coronavirus and economic difficulties it’s created. Park City was experiencing an unprecedented boom before seemingly the whole world went bust. Projects that had been simmering for decades were put in motion, and despite speed bumps along the way they continue forward, albeit with a few tweaks.

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Organizers have officially canceled the 2020 Tour of Utah due to concerns about the continued spread of COVID-19. The decision to suspend the race—which was due to take place in early August with stages in various venues in Park City on August 6, 8 and 9—highlights the depth of economic uncertainty facing Park City and Summit County this summer. Businesses and the town are already feeling acute ramifications after ski season was abruptly halted with a month of expected lift ticket sales, shopping and dining money, lodging reservations and tax revenue remaining. Summit County has been hit particularly hard by the novel coronavirus, with infection rates rivaling denser national hot spots, casting doubt the tourist-centric community will be able to realistically resume normal economic activity any time soon.

The Tour of Utah attracts world-class cyclists and UCI World Tour Teams from around the globe. The race, considered the most difficult stage race in the United States, sees riders challenged by mountainous terrain across Utah. It’s become a huge tourist draw and driver of economic activity, as evidenced by the decision to add a new stage starting from Woodward in Park City to this year’s edition. The Tour’s final day, where riders finish on Main Street, is one of the largest single-day draws to downtown in the summer season.

The decision to cancel the event this far in advance evinces a sobering reality about the Utah’s recovery in the face of the pandemic. University of Utah epidemiologist Lindsay Keegan warned Utah’s peak in COVID-19 cases is months away. A doctor with the University of Utah I spoke with who asked not to be named said the latest U of U modeling shared with healthcare workers expects the peak of infections to occur in late June. The caveat here is the inherent uncertainty surrounding epidemiological modeling, but projections make clear that social disruption will continue far beyond the end of April.

Vail Resorts, owners of Park City Mountain and one of the town’s largest employers, announced massive furloughs for nearly all hourly workers, executive pay cuts and a suspension of dividends for shareholders. In an open letter, CEO Rob Katz said it was unclear when resorts would be able to resume normal business. When the largest companies and most visible events that drive tourism are battening down the hatches, it’s time for the rest of us to take notice. How everything will play out remains to be seen, but the havoc wreaked on Park City’s economy, businesses and workforce will be felt for longer than anyone would like to admit.

Cycling fans will undoubtedly be disappointed with the Tour’s cancellation. So will people like me who frequent the event and enjoy seeing widespread enthusiasm and a vibrant spirit take over the community each summer. Who knows what will happen with Park City Sunday Silly Market this year? Same goes for the Kimball Arts Festival and the huge lineup of outdoor concerts, all of which are centerpieces of Park City’s summer. As with everything in the time of coronavirus, we need to expect disruption, act responsibly and hope for the best. The mountains aren’t going anywhere, and we’ll still be able to watch cyclists suffer up their steep grades next year.