1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

As your constituent, I urge you to oppose any plan to build a Major League Baseball ballpark inside Grand Teton National Park or any other national park. A professional sports venue would place commercial entertainment ahead of the preservation purpose for which these lands were protected. The Washington Post reported on September 26, 2026, that Major League Baseball approached the administration about hosting a game in a national park. National Park Service Deputy Director Frank Lands reportedly visited Grand Teton and examined three sites. The White House says no decision has been made and the Park Service has granted no permit. Congress should act before exploration becomes an irreversible commitment. THE PARK’S PURPOSE MUST CONTROL The National Park Service Organic Act directs the Service to conserve park scenery, natural and historic objects, and wildlife while allowing public enjoyment in ways that leave those resources unimpaired for future generations. Grand Teton protects mountains, lakes, wildlife, and solitude. A ballpark would require construction, roads, parking, utilities, lighting, security, crowds, traffic, noise, and waste. These impacts could displace visitors and disturb bears, wolves, bison, elk, pronghorn, and other wildlife. A disturbed site would still require additional access, infrastructure, emergency services, and visitor management. A temporary facility could become permanent, as happened with the Field of Dreams site. THE PRECEDENT WOULD BE DANGEROUS Approval would signal that national parks may be used for professional sports and other commercial spectacles whenever a promoter offers attractive publicity. That would invite pressure for stadiums, arenas, concerts, and resorts in protected lands. Supporters may cite tourism, but those benefits can be obtained at developed sites outside parks. Please protect Grand Teton and the National Park System from commercial development. Preserve these lands for their intended purpose, not for a short-term commercial spectacle that could create a lasting precedent. I urge you to take these specific actions: (1) LEGISLATE. Prohibit construction, operation, or federal authorization of a professional baseball ballpark or comparable permanent sports facility within any unit of the National Park System. (2) BLOCK FUNDING. Prohibit federal funds for planning, construction, infrastructure, permitting, or operation of such a facility in a national park. (3) INVESTIGATE. Hold hearings and require the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service to provide Congress with records concerning the proposal, site visits, permits, environmental reviews, financing, security, infrastructure, and private-party communications. (4) ENACT SAFEGUARDS. Require by law environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, public disclosure, meaningful public comment, and congressional notification and review before federal authorization. Thank you.