Scenic Preserve Trust to weigh Stilson Park easement acceptance

The Teton County Scenic Preserve Trust is set Monday to consider accepting the Stilson Park Conservation Easement, the trust-side step that would put the county-owned park parcel under long-term easement oversight, according to the June 22 agenda. The easement packet describes the ground as Lot 2 at Stilson, roughly 8.5 acres, with 6.52 acres kept for open space and unprogrammed play fields and 2 acres set aside for a park amenities area easement packet.

For anyone watching the rural edge of the valley get carved into harder uses, the plain language matters. The easement would prohibit residential, commercial and industrial development, further subdivision, and permanent barriers that impede wildlife movement, except where the document expressly allows park improvements. Staff says placing the easement has no direct county cost, but habitat restoration, park amenities, unprogrammed fields and monitoring would bring future costs.