Block Construction Builds Toward New Greenspace

The Jackson Hole Land Trust (JHLT) is thrilled to announce that the Greenspace on the Block will open to the public later this summer following the community-powered campaign to “Save the Block” in the summer of 2019. Though Block businesses are open, construction is well underway and the greenspace is fenced and currently inaccessible. Once completed, the Greenspace on the Block will be a place for friends and neighbors to gather that offers connection to open space in the heart of town and a glimpse into Jackson’s past.

Work at the Greenspace on the Block resumed in April. Guided by the vision of Hershberger Design, Wyoming Landscape Maintenance is set to complete hardscaping by early summer with landscaping to follow. The completed service drive provides much-needed infrastructure to Block businesses that is cohesive with the overall design for the space. Graded walking trails and interpretive signage will invite visitors into the new community conservation property. Age and ability-friendly benches crafted by local designers Hise Sikora and Prospect Studio will offer opportunities for conversation with friends or quiet reflection.

Bruun Boulevard is currently closed for Town of Jackson infrastructure updates that will provide a seasonal flow of water through the Greenspace on the Block each year. The JHLT received a generous grant from Teton Conservation District that will put Cache Creek at the fore of this landscape. Nearly all of this stream is piped underground beneath the streets of Jackson. The Greenspace on the Block will provide an important view of what was once a flourishing waterway and invite reflection on the future of conservation and resource stewardship in the valley.

“We are thrilled to see the community’s vision for the Greenspace on the Block begin to take shape,” reflected JHLT Vice President Liz Long. “We are grateful to the anonymous family that carried this project, our local business and nonprofit partners that call the block home, and to each and every community member that made the Greenspace on the Block a reality. Once completed, it will provide a space for the community to come back together after a year of isolation. We look forward to celebrating this successful project with the Jackson community.”

With a groundswell of local support over a four-month window in the summer of 2019, the JHLT led a fundraising campaign that raised more than $7 million from 2,500 community members. On August 16, 2019, the JHLT successfully recorded an easement on a portion of the Genevieve Block that will protect its community greenspace and historic character forever. The JHLT is raising the final funding necessary to complete construction and bring the community’s vision to fruition with the opening of the Greenspace on the Block.

While landscaping timelines may preclude a full community gathering this year, the JHLT is looking to 2022 to host an all-out celebration. Once construction is complete, however, all are welcome at the Greenspace on the Block!