Utah is a land of diverse landscapes, populations, and beliefs, but the one thing we have in common is the air we breathe. Salt Lake City faces a clean air public health crisis. The contaminated air has increased Utahns’ rates of asthma, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. With the regional population expected to double by the year 2050, we must stand up to the challenge to clean the air and provide for a more sustainable path for our future generations. Lighter Than Air seeks to give people a unique perspective of Salt Lake City and its air quality by lifting them 500 feet into the sky on a tethered helium balloon. While tourism may be the initial draw to this destination, this will be a transformative experience that educates participants on the importance of clean air and the connection we have to the land. The goal is that through education and lived experience, people will make changes to the way they live, which results in incremental improvements to air quality.
