Wyoming officials approve $100 million sale of Grand Teton National Park land to government [View all]
Source: USA Today
Published 2:09 p.m. ET Nov. 9, 2024 | Updated 5:33 p.m. ET Nov. 9, 2024
Wyoming officials made the decision this week to sell a portion of land within Grand Teton National Park to the federal government. The Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners approved the sale in a 3-2 vote of the state's Kelly Parcel for $100 million to the U.S. Department of Interior on Thursday. The board is made up of five state officials, including Gov. Mark Gordon, who voted in favor of the sale. A closing date on the sale has yet to be set.
Megan Degenfelder, Wyoming superintendent of public instruction, voted against the sale, favoring a table of the decision for a later meeting. She also expressed support for a trade deal, whether than an outright sale. One of Degenfelder's main concerns is the amount of land the federal government already owns in Wyoming. She said 48% of the state's surface area and 65% of the state's minerals are owned by the federal government.
"I want to protect the Kelly Parcel from development. I have recreated there, I've hunted there, I've fished there, I've climbed the Grand Teton, as I believe the governor has, I don't want to see that be developed." Degenfelder said on Thursday. "I do want the best deal for Wyoming, and this is the most valuable piece of property Wyoming has ever had. To me, we can't sell Wyoming short."
Others expressed concern in delaying the project, which has been in the works for more than 15 years, including Grand Teton National Park Foundation President Leslie Mattson. Since March 2023, the foundation has raised more than $38 million to assist the federal government with the $100 million parcel purchase.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/national-parks/2024/11/08/wyoming-selling-land-kelly-parcel-grand-teton-national-park/76128589007/
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