The 40-acre Rendezvous Park is finally ready for its close-up.

The natural park — generally referred to simply as “R Park” — is located on the banks of the Snake River adjacent to the Wilson boat launch. It has been a two-year-plus undertaking, as has a pedestrian- and cyclist-only bridge over the Snake River, which will be one of the ways to access wwthe area.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday the community is invited to the park’s official and much anticipated unveiling.

R Park is a project of Rendezvous Lands Conservancy Inc. — a Wyoming nonprofit created by the Jackson Hole Land Trust — and the LOR Foundation of Jackson. The two groups were charged with administering, designing, constructing, developing, managing and maintaining the park for the use and enjoyment of Teton County residents and visitors. It is located on land owned by Rendezvous.

“The goal here was to create an experience for the community as well as promoting public access, which is important to LOR and RLC,” said LaMonte Guillory, communications officer for LOR. “The alternative was perhaps private land and homes, and I think we have enough of that right now.

“When we first met to discuss how to use this land, we agreed we wanted to bring conservation to the community,” Guillory said, “to help residents better understand what it means to them and how to create a better natural experience and access to wildlife in a safe way.”

Community input was gathered to determine the name, design, features and uses of the new park. All funding was raised by private gifts.

Evans Construction ran a commercial gravel operation on the site, covering much of the interior portion of the park land with gravel storage mounds and fill. Guillory said it took all summer to get the gravel out.

The end result of all the planning, fundraising and physical work is an open space that features three ponds — the largest of which is big enough for swimming, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding — plus water features, walking trails, the pathway bridge and pathway. It also includes nature and wildlife viewing areas, and in the future may feature picnic areas, gathering and event areas and public art.

Dogs are allowed on leash, “but we are still trying to figure out an off-leash area,” Guillory said.

Fishing will be allowed in the park, although strictly catch-and-release, and not this Sunday.

“It’s important that the community be aware that the park is not completely finished,” Guillory said. “There’s more work to be done and it will be completed in phases. The finished product is sure to impress, but we just aren’t there yet.”

The park will be accessible by vehicle, START bus (which drops people off just across Highway 390 at the Stilson parking lot), boat via the Snake River and bike or foot over the new bridge from Emily’s Pond. Public restrooms will be provided in the future.

“R Park’s intent, as it relates to parking, is to create a natural and harmonious environment with camp-style parking nestled between trees,” Guillory said. “We did not want to design a parking area that resembles a commercial parking lot.”

Guillory said that parking will eventually be located at the northwest corner of the park, but the area will not be completed in time for the opening.

“One of the goals with having the pathway there is that people can choose a mode of transportation to reach the park other than vehicles,” Guillory said, “such as biking, hiking, jogging, rollerblading, maybe even skipping!”

Sunday’s event will feature a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m., live music from local band Maddy and the Groove Spots, free food provided by Bistro Catering, free beer from Snake River Brewing, interactive recreation, a hammock forest and a participatory art experience.

In addition there will be a “wild festival” from Mother Earth Puppets, videos courtesy of Jackson Hole Public Art, a fly-fishing demo by the Snake River Fund, kayaking and paddleboarding and a Teton Science School educational scientific water sampling demonstration for kids.

“The park is really big,” Guillory said. “I didn’t realize it, but it is massive. When most people hear the word ‘park’ they think slides and swings, but this is a natural park — it’s nature and wildlife. That was a high priority in creating it. Wildlife and humans interact in this environment in Jackson Hole, and we didn’t want to negatively impact the presence of wildlife here.

“We want to make sure our community understands that this project was designed with them in mind. Everyone in the community loves the outdoors,” he said. “It’s part of their lifestyle.”

For information visit RendezvousLandsConservancy.org.

This article appeared in the Jackson Hole News & Guide on 9/17/14.