Cody ­— Park County Open Lands is pleased to extend an invitation to the community for the first community picnic. This June 10 event will not only celebrate the remarkable open spaces and agricultural heritage of Park County but also mark the launch of the community-led land trust program. Park County Open Lands, founded by a group of passionate long-time residents, aims to address the development pressures faced by the county’s open spaces.

The picnic will take place at Canal Park, located behind the Cody Library and Rec Center, from 4-7 p.m. The event promises a joyous atmosphere suitable for the whole family, featuring live music from Doc Morton and the Rowdy Uncle Band. Kids can enjoy a bouncy house, face painting and cornhole. Sherrie Frame from Caterin’2’U will provide a delightful meal, plus beer, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages. 

“Park County Open Lands empowers individual landowners to make a difference in protecting important personal and community values,” said Jarren Kuipers, Park County Open Lands Advisory Council Chair. “The community picnic is an opportunity to collectively celebrate those values and efforts. It is a reminder of why we do this work.”

“This celebration of open space is going to be a family-friendly event with fantastic food and music to tickle your toes,” added Park County Open Lands Regional Director Alex Few. “Canal Park has stunning views of the open space we’re working hard to protect. It’s one of the things that makes this place such a fantastic community to live in. You won’t want to miss it!” 

Tickets for the picnic are now available for purchase at a cost of $10 per ticket, while children can attend free of charge. It is highly recommended to secure tickets early to ensure participation in this inaugural event: jhlandtrust.org/events/pcolpicnic. Park County Open Lands is also offering a raffle with the chance to win a range of unique prizes, including guided hikes, raft trips, dance lessons and a grass-finished beef bundle. The raffle winners will be announced during the picnic at 6:30 p.m. on June 10, though winners need not be present to claim their prizes. All proceeds from the raffle will directly contribute to the landscape protection efforts in Park County.This event, made possible by all our generous sponsors, is presented by The Nielson Family in honor of James E. Nielson and Sage Creek Ranch and supported by the following: 307 Premier Real Estate Office of John Parsons, Cad’s Farm Beef, Edward Jones Office of Kelby Scott, Midwest Fence Company, Northern Gardens LLC, Pinnacle Bank, Powell Economic Partnership, Seckman & Thomas Certified Public Accountants, Spearing Farms, and Sunlight Sports.Park County Open Lands is a community-led program of the Jackson Hole Land Trust. Established in 2022, Park County Open Lands works to protect and steward Park County’s open lands, including working agricultural lands and wildlife habitat.