The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce and Teton County Commissioners signed onto a letter Monday calling on the Trump administration to nix an idea from Major League Baseball to host a game inside Grand Teton National Park.
Even temporary infrastructure can fragment habitat, spike human presence in wildlife areas, and strain park resources, states the letter addressed to U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
The letter also raises concern of setting a precedent for allowing “major commercial entertainment” where it is currently not allowed.
That builds on local anxiety after actions from the Trump administration resulted in Grand Teton losing a quarter of its staff, eliminating signs about Indigenous history and suddenly changing course on plans for a bike path in a sensitive area.
The Washington Post first reported that MLB had pitched the Trump administration with the idea of building a temporary field following the success of other stand-alone games. In statements to several news outlets, the White House said that the MLB has not made any decisions, the National Park Service has not granted any permits, and the issue is not an Interior Department or administration priority.
NPS Deputy Director of Operations Frank Lands looked at three potential locations for a ball field inside Grand Teton’s boundaries, according to the report.
Reached by phone on Monday, Lands did not say whether the league scoped other national parks and declined further questions.
“I was there for multiple reasons, including to look at some construction projects that they’ve got going on,” Lands told KHOL. “But I don’t think I’m in a position to talk about anything that happened there.”
Though many in Jackson Hole find the idea of a commercial game inside a national park absurd, Teton County Commissioner Luther Propst wanted to be clear that local leaders reject it.
“A lot of the comments I heard from folks yesterday [were] not taking it seriously. I think we have to take this seriously,” Propst said during a Monday meeting.
Chair Mark Newcomb agreed.
“Teddy Roosevelt is rolling in his grave right now. This is so counter to anything that national parks are supposed to represent,” he said.
Representatives from MLB did not immediately respond to KHOL’s requests for comment. Grand Teton National Park directed questions to offices in Washington, D.C., which did not immediately respond.
Evan Robinson-Johnson contributed to reporting. – Ed.
