Photo: First Night Crowd
The Zoo, Arts and Parks Program strives to meld culture and community, we engage our partners in exposing people of all ages and cultures to emerging and existing arts and cultural opportunities. We improve the health of communities and community members through arts, recreation and lifelong learning experiences.
The mission of the Zoo, Arts and Parks Program is to enhance Salt Lake County resident and visitor experiences through cultural and recreational offerings. This in turn will stabilize, enhance and support Salt Lake County’s arts and cultural community and provide ongoing economic development opportunities. The Zoo, Arts and Parks Program is committed to fair and equitable access to Zoo, Arts and Parks funding and educational resources. The ZAP program provides a user friendly process with knowledgeable staff and boards.
The ZAP Program works to increase the public awareness of the value of Zoo, Arts and Parks. The program exists to enhance financial support of Salt Lake County’s zoological, cultural and botanical organizations through the imposition, collection, and distribution of a 1/10th of 1% county sales and use tax. The program provides adequate predictable support for the organizations within the Zoological, and Tier I categories and provides enhanced support for the organizations within the Tier II category
Thank you residents of Salt Lake County
for your support of the ZAP Program!
In 2004 this voter-approved sales tax referendum passed overwhelmingly
by 71.30% of the voters
(227,608 of 319,232 people who voted on this issue).
Since 1997, Salt Lake County’s Zoo, Arts & Parks Program has provided much-need funding to cultural, zoological and botanical organizations. For the past decade Salt Lake County has collected one additional penny on every ten dollars spent within Salt Lake County for the Zoo, Arts and Parks Program. Those funds are distributed among local organizations and projects deemed qualified for funds by the Advisory Boards and Salt Lake County Council. Each organization that receives ZAP funding is the subject of a thorough application process. The applications are reviewed by either the Tier I or Tier II Advisory Board. In 2007, over 150 organizations recieved funding.
The various ZAP organizations reach an enormous number and cross section of citizens within the county and make a generous contribution to the vibrancy of the County. Each year the ZAP program accepts applications for funding. For more information about applying for funds go to the ZAP Recipients Application website.
In 2012 167 organizations were funded for projects and events throughout Salt Lake County.
SLCo ZAP Program Wins Top Grade From Auditors
Salt Lake County’s Zoo, Arts and Parks program got a vote of confidence today. The County Auditor’s Office completed a Performance Audit of the ZAP Program. The audit focused on a review of funding for zoological, cultural and arts organizations and did not include the recreational component. James Wightman, Director, Internal Audit concluded, “that the County’s ZAP Program is in compliance with pertinent regulations and procedures set forth in State Statute and County Policies and reached no findings to the contrary”.