Grand Teton Foundation Races to Fundraise — or Lose Key Wildlife Corridor

Wyoming could sell a currently protected parcel of land, key to elk and other hoofed mammal migration paths, to private developers.

1 minute read

August 7, 2024, 10:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Bison grazing in green meadow with Grand Teton mountains in background.

Bison graze in Grand Teton National Park. | jay / Adobe Stock

The state of Wyoming is considering selling a 640-acre parcel of land to Grand Teton National Park — for $100 million.

Some state legislators suggested the land should be sold at a public auction to gain more revenue, which the state’s constitution mandates, writes Chris Clements in NPR. “After the uproar, the Wyoming Legislature passed a bill allowing two years for the federal government to buy the land for not-less-than $100 million and merge it with the park adjacent to it.” Now, the Grand Teton National Park Foundation is racing against time to raise the needed $38 million, with the federal government promising to kick in the remainder.

Money isn’t the only object: “In the bill passed by the Legislature, there’s a line tying the fate of the deal for the Kelly Parcel to something else lawmakers want: More access to an area in the southwest corner of the state, owned by the federal government.” State leaders want to open the land for grazing and resource extraction, but conservationists say the area is a crucial migration corridor for hoofed mammals due to its unique geography. If the foundation doesn’t raise the money to buy the land in two years, it could end up back on the auction block for private buyers.

Sunday, August 4, 2024 in NPR

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Red SF Muni ticketing machine.

San Francisco Muni Raises Fares a Second Time

A 10–cent fare hike for adults is part of the agency’s plan to chip away at a growing budget deficit.

May 21 - San Francisco Examiner

Electric car charging station with several Chevy Bolts charging in parking lot of store in Bellingham, Washington

Electric Grid Capacity Could Hamstring EV Growth

Industry leaders say the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for the increased demand for power created by electric cars, data centers, and electric homes.

May 21 - GovTech

Top view new development riverside residential and commercial neighborhood with vacant land in Texas, USA.

Texas Bill Supports Adaptive Reuse in Commercial Areas

Senate Bill 840, which was preliminarily approved by the state House, would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for offices and commercial uses.

May 21 - The Texas Tribune