Community Cooperation for Public Lands: Laramie’s Pilot Hill Project

Executive Summary

In 2017, Albany County, Wyoming was approached by local ranchland owners about potentially purchasing 5,500 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to the city. This land, sitting on top of the Casper Aquifer, a major supplier of the water for the city, would connect Laramie to a portion Medicine Bow National Forest, approximately five to 10 miles to the east. With the opportunity to greatly expand its outdoor recreation areas and protect its drinking water, Laramie explored many options of purchasing the land known as Pilot Hill, creating partnerships with county and state government, nonprofits, local business, and other community stakeholders. Over the course of three years and through many ups and downs, the city is nearing the end of the Pilot Hill Project, with hopes to open the area up to the public in Fall 2020.

This paper examines the local community response, political and social atmosphere, and policy climate surrounding this project and looks to the future of the impact on the local community.

Policy analysis paper written in 2020 during Master’s coursework in public administration.