Wyoming — After decades of threatening to sell land inside Grand Teton National Park to a private party, this story seems headed for a happy ending.
Last week, Wyoming’s Board of Land Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the sale of the Kelly Parcel to the federal government for $100 million. The 640-acre plot of land is inside the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park. This deal will officially allow the land to become part of Grand Teton National Park. This sale will help provide funding for Wyoming’s public schools and help them acquire land in the Powder River Basin, which is full of valuable minerals.
According to the Gillette News Record, the next step is for the Bureau of Land Management to produce a record of decision for the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan. Before this vote by the Board of the Land Commissioners, the Wyoming Legislature approved the sale of the Kelly Parcel, but it has to be sold following the release of the record of the decision. After that, the sale will be finalized, which could happen by the end of 2024.
The debate since Wyoming became a state in 1890 was what to do with this plot of land. They tried grazing, but it didn’t generate much money. They considered selling the land to a private landowner last year but received pushback from many Wyoming residents. While selling to a private developer would’ve likely generated a lot of money, it wasn’t the right thing to do, seeing that the Kelly Parcel is inside Grand Teton National Park. In addition, the plot of land is a migration pattern of animals like elk and mule deer. While selling it to the federal government was the right move, Wyoming is a small-government-minded state, making it less desirable to do business with them. However, this sale is a win for all sides: the state and federal government, visitors, and animals.
Image Credits: Grand Teton National Park Foundation
