New Public-Private Effort Aims to Secure High-Stakes Land and Complete Grand Teton National Park

Here in Grand Teton, there is a historic parallel between 1916 and 2016. While August brings a celebration of the vision that created the National Park Service 100 years ago, we also have our eyes on a December 2016 deadline—a final chance to protect one square mile in the heart of Grand Teton National Park from potential development. This 2016 deadline to purchase one of two large inholdings is an opportunity to permanently preserve the park’s remaining highest-value wildlife and scenic lands.

The 640 acre Antelope Flats parcel.

The parcels at stake within Grand Teton’s boundaries are unique. They are owned by the State of Wyoming and held in a trust required to generate revenue for public education. The State of Wyoming has a constitutional obligation to earn income from trust assets, primarily by using the lands commercially, making their inholdings subject to potential development. That reality makes securing the 1,280 acres the current land-protection priority for the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. Each inholding, the 640-acre Antelope Flats parcel valued at $46 million, and the 640-acre Kelly parcel, is part of that state trust. While Grand Teton National Park lands were protected for the public with a specific mission so, too, were the state school trust lands. They simply have different equally important mandates.

The good news is that securing the Antelope Flats parcel would not only be a tremendous win for the park, but also for Wyoming. The money generated from the sale will help Wyoming’s school trust meet its fiduciary mandate and trust obligations, generating vital income at a time when decreasing energy revenues have hurt the state’s economy. If successful, protection of the Antelope Flats parcel could create the momentum for a future transaction to emerge in 2017 for the Kelly parcel.

Recognizing the importance of the state school trust lands to the integrity of Grand Teton, efforts are underway to secure the necessary $23 million through the National Park Service’s annual appropriations process in Congress this year. This money will match $23 million raised privately for the purchase of the Antelope Flats parcel. The state has the legislative authority to sell the land before calendar year-end. Grand Teton National Park Foundation and Washington DC-based National Park Foundation have launched a campaign to raise $23 million in private funds before the end of 2016. Securing these two parcels will be capstone conservation achievements for the National Park Service and will also convert key Wyoming school trust land assets into cash at a critical time for Wyoming.

Be part of one of America’s greatest conservation achievements. Contact Leslie Mattson at 307-732-0629 or leslie@gtnpf.org.