- The US government has held discussions to transfer a portion of Yosemite National Park to a private developer.
- Property company Kingsbarn Realty Capital wishes to build a road there to open up a 35-hectare plot of land.
- The Department of the Interior confirms talks but states that no final decision has been made.
Confidential Negotiations Revealed
The US administration has examined the possibility of transferring a strip of land from Yosemite National Park, California, for the benefit of a private property developer. According to recent revelations, the federal government has explored several options to grant a parcel of approximately 400 metres to a subsidiary of Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a company based in the neighbouring state of Nevada. In exchange for this portion of public territory, the National Park Service would receive an equivalent area in another sector of California. The Department of the Interior confirmed that discussions had taken place while stating that no final decision had been adopted at this stage. The institution also assured that if the project were to progress, all legal procedures for transparency and public participation would be respected.
Controversial Road Access and Overcrowding Fears
This exchange project aims to facilitate access to a 35-hectare property acquired in 2024 by the developer on the edge of the park. Its CEO, Jeff Pori, aims to build a direct connecting road to one of the major thoroughfares crossing this protected nature reserve. Similar road construction initiatives had already been rejected under the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. This prospect has angered environmental protection associations, who denounce an attack on public heritage. Activists fear an exacerbation of tourist overcrowding in this site, famous for its granite cliffs and giant sequoias, especially since the vehicle regulation system was recently abolished.
