Might not seem like much

 

Back in January, before the Trump Disastriministration, the U.S. government completed a very important transaction with the state of Wyoming.  They bought the 'Kelly Parcel' for $100 million dollars. It was only 640 acres, not much, but it was in a pretty notable location.

Government buys Grand Teton National Park land for $100 million to protect from developers

The Department of Interior provided $62.4 million for the purchase and the Grand Teton National Park Foundation raised the remaining $37.6 million through private donations.

"As for the Kelly Parcel specifically, there had been discussions in the past of opening up the land for public auction, which would have allowed private developers to buy it."

"The Kelly Parcel is a state trust land, which means that assets from the land generate income for Wyoming public schools, as stated in the state's constitution. The parcel, according to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, currently obtained about $2,800 annual through various permits.The sale of the Kelly Parcel will return approximately $69.6 million into Wyoming's Common School Permanent Fund within the first 10 years, according to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation."

So where was the Kelly Parcel? (Actually, where it still is, but it won't be separate from the national park anymore.)

It's the yellow box in the map below. The concern was that while it was still state-held, it could get sold, and a few wealthy people with nothing better to do could build palaces on it with a view of the Tetons. So selling it to the U.S. government was a great idea.  I'm glad it got done.