Park City dog park renamed for boy who made it happen; he recently died tragically as a young man

When he was 10 years old, a visit to a Florida dog park inspired Ian Weinman to push for one to be built in Park City. The boy attended City Council meetings, wrote letters that were published in The Park Record and helped organize community members to advocate for the project.

After four years, his efforts helped lead to the construction of a leash-free park in Quinn’s Junction in 2008 and the addition of improvements in 2009. Weinman and then-Mayor Dana Williams jointly cut the ceremonial ribbon for the Park City Dog Park, at 600 Gillmor Way.

The Park City Recreation Department conducted an informal poll in 2008 to name the park and 25 residents responded, with “City Bark” getting the most votes. However, there is no signage with that name and no record it was formally adopted. The park is listed on the municipal website as Quinn’s Junction Dog Park.

A week ago, the park got a new name — the Ian Weinman Legacy Dog Park. The City Council voted unanimously to formally adopt that name.

The change comes three months after Weinman died in a motorcycle accident.  Developer Rory Murphy, who proposed the renaming, said the 29 year old’s death “has deeply affected a wide, vast swath of the city’s community fabric.”

In a letter to Mayor Nann Worel and the City Council members, Murphy said Weinman demonstrated his devotion to the park project throughout its lengthy planning and entitlement phases and the dog park would not exist if not for his efforts.

“That a young man would show such passion and perseverance at such a young age is remarkable to me,” Murphy said in his letter. “It appeared to be an entirely selfless act and required years of dedication to bring to fruition.”

Park City Recreation Director Ken Fisher said when he worked with Weinman in 2005 on the development of the park, “off-lease dogs were as big of an issue as e-bikes and pickleball are today.” 

Fisher cited Weinman’s determination, vision and hard work as key to a dog park being built in the city.

At the Dec. 19 meeting, Weinman’s father, Rich Wyman, flanked by his wife, Lisa Needham, and son, Owen Weinman, told the City Council the family is grateful for the renaming of the park.

“In 2005, when Ian was just 10 years old, he came to this very building, to this very room, and Ian addressed the mayor and the City Council,” Wyman said. “Ian passionately asked why Park City didn’t have a dog park and he expressed his belief that our community should. Ian spoke with such conviction and clarity that Mayor Dana Williams said, ‘Well, let’s put it to a vote.’ And the council voted unanimously to create Park City’s first dog park.”

He said the City Council established a citizens’ dog park committee and made his son the head of it.

A Park City policy that provides a uniform procedure for naming public areas says for an individual to be considered for the honor, that person must have contributed significantly to the acquisition or development of the public area.

“At 10 years old, we’re not talking significantly contributing, we’re talking making it happen,” Park City Councilor Jeremy Rubell said. “It’s just a beautiful thing that we can honor Ian’s legacy in this way.”

Murphy offered to pay for any signage that would be required as part of the name change. The municipal code says Park City can accept in-kind and cash donations of less than $10,000, according to a staff report. 

Worel and the councilors directed Park City Manager Matt Dias to pursue a landscaping plan for the dog park and possible inclusion of it in the 2026 budget.

An obituary posted by his parents says Weinman was traveling through the Lincoln Tunnel from New York City to his home in New Jersey on Sept. 10 when he was involved in the accident. Despite wearing a helmet, he sustained a severe brain injury and was placed on life support in a non-communicative state.

With no hope whatsoever of returning to “an awake, communicative state,” the parents said they decided removing life support was the more humane path.

“On Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 12:24 p.m. EST, Ian Michael Weinman crossed quickly into heaven,” the obituary says. “In his departure, he became a light in the sky, burning brighter than ever before. Ian left us the only way he knew how: fighting until the very end.”

Their son had an infectious energy that touched everyone and life for him was a wild, exhilarating journey to the very edge, Needham and Wyman said.

“Being called to the sea, adventure, music and love, Ian brought joy, laughter, depth and a greater appreciation for this gift we call life to everyone around him,” they said. “He was unstoppable, he was strong, he was brave and he was magnetic.”

Text of the statement at the City Council Chambers by his father, Rich, flanked by wife Lisa and son Owen:

Good evening, Mayor Worel and members of the City Council,

Yesterday, December 18, marked three months since our son and brother, Ian Michael Needham Weinman, passed away. 

Our lives will never be the same, but each day, we strive to be the best we can be, in Ian’s honor. 

Tonight, you have the opportunity to help us honor Ian and his lasting legacy.

Our entire family is deeply grateful for your consideration of renaming the Park City Dog Park to The Ian Weinman Legacy Dog Park.”

In 2005, when Ian was just 10 years old, he came to this very building, to this very room, and Ian addressed the mayor and city council. 

Ian passionately asked why Park City didn’t have a dog park, and he expressed his belief that our community should. 

He even shared pictures of a beautiful dog park he had visited in Florida with his grandparents. 

Ian spoke with such conviction and clarity that Mayor Dana Williams said, “Well, let’s just put it up for a vote,” and the council voted unanimously to create Park City’s first dog park.

Ian’s excitement and determination were contagious. 

The council also established a citizens’ dog park committee, and Ian was made the head of that committee. 

It took four years to bring the dog park to life — three years spent pursuing different pieces of land, and finally, after much perseverance, the park was built where it stands today. 

Ian never lost hope. He never gave up, and he kept motivating all of us. 

When Ian was 14 years old, wearing his Boy Scout uniform, he and Mayor Dana Williams cut the ribbon to officially open the first Park City Dog Park. 

That moment filled all of us with immense pride.

I’d like to express my gratitude to Rory Murphy and Dana Williams for their tireless efforts in making the park and the renaming of the dog park a possibility. Thank you both, my brothers. 

I also want to thank Mayor Nann Worel for the love and support she has shown our family these past three months. 

To the City Council, thank you for considering this resolution tonight. 

We appreciate everyone here and everyone in Park City and beyond who has shown our family so much kindness and support during this difficult time.

But most of all, I want to thank Ian. 

Without Ian, there would be no dog park. 

We are incredibly grateful to all who have helped make this possible.

Thank you.

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