Wyoming officials made the decision this week to sell some of the land in Grand Teton National Park to the federal government.
The Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners voted 3-2 on Thursday to approve the $100 million sale of state-owned Kelly Parcel to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The board consists of five state officials, including Gov. Mark Gordon, who voted in favor of the sale. A closing date for the sale has yet to be set.
Megan Degenfelder, Wyoming’s superintendent of public instruction, voted against the sale, preferring to table the decision for a later meeting. She also expressed support for a trade deal, whether it be an outright sale.
One of Degenfelder’s biggest concerns is the amount of land the federal government already owns in Wyoming. She said 48% of the state’s land area and 65% of the state’s minerals are owned by the federal government.
“I want to protect the Kelly Parcel from development. I’ve recreated there, I’ve hunted there, I’ve fished there, I’ve climbed the Grand Teton, as I believe the governor has done, I don’t want to see that developed.” Degenfelder said Thursday: “I really want the best deal for Wyoming, and this is the most valuable piece of property that Wyoming has ever had.”
Others expressed concern about delaying the project, which has been in the works for more than 15 years, including Leslie Mattson, president of the Grand Teton National Park Foundation. Since March 2023, the foundation has raised more than $38 million to help the federal government purchase $100 million worth of packages.
“If this transaction is delayed, I believe we are at significant risk of losing that funding given the fiscal year planning for many of our donors, who expect to provide funding before December 31st. That will be problematic for us and then puts us in a challenging situation to return to them in the future,” Mattson told the board Thursday. “That money doesn’t end up in our organization; it could go to other organizations across the country and will not be used to fund public education in Wyoming.”
Mattson was one of several speakers who shared their thoughts on the sale with the board during a meeting that lasted more than three hours.
Grand Teton Superintendent Chip Jenkins was another, emphasizing the national park’s importance to the state.
“New Welcome to Wyoming signs are being installed along state highways throughout Wyoming, and prominently displayed on state highways are a photo of Grand Teton National Park. That is one of many examples of how important Grand Teton National Park is to the state of Wyoming,” Jenkins said Thursday.
Jenkins added that the national park will “be ready” for whatever the future brings, prioritizing tourism, conservation and supporting local schools.
USA TODAY reached out to Grand Teton National Park for a statement on the sale but was unable to reach a team member by deadline.
National parks: On Veterans Day you can visit all of America’s national parks for free
It takes a long time
The decision made by the Board of Land Commissioners on Thursday follows years of discussions about the sale of the Kelly Parcel.
Over the past dozen years, the Board of Land Commissioners has transferred three parcels near the national park to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Between 2012 and 2016, the Department of the Interior purchased the Jackson Lake Parcel, Snake River Parcel and Antelope Flats Parcel in Wyoming for about $62 million, as presented during Thursday’s Board of Land Commissioners meeting. The board may use this money to acquire other federal land.
Regarding the Kelly Parcel, the Board of Directors has discussed over the years the sale of this land to the federal government and the possibility of opening it up for public auction, meaning private developers could acquire the land buy.
As part of the state budget, the Wyoming Legislature last year approved the sale of the Kelly Parcel for at least $100 million.
What is the Kelly package?
Located in Grand Teton National Park, the Kelly Parcel extends over 640 acres through the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. It has been owned by Wyoming since the state’s founding, but only part of Grand Teton since a park expansion in 1950. Elk, bison, elk, mule deer and pronghorn call the Kelly Parcel home.
The Kelly Parcel is not only a natural wonder, but also a state trust land. The Wyoming Constitution requires that land assets generate revenue for public schools. According to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, the property currently earns about $2,800 annually through various permits.
According to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, this week’s sale will raise approximately $69.6 million for Wyoming’s Common School Permanent Fund within the first ten years.
“This one-time investment in the Common School Permanent Fund is desperately needed at this time, especially as mineral revenues remain uncertain for the state of Wyoming,” said a statement on the foundation’s website.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wyoming sells land in Grand Teton to the federal government for $100 million
