DNR accepts Rock Island corridor for park

By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 12/16/21

ELDON, Mo., — The state of Missouri on Dec. 14 accepted 144 miles of the Rock Island Trail into the parks system.

Mark Birk, Ameren Missouri senior vice-president for Customer and Power …

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DNR accepts Rock Island corridor for park

Posted

ELDON, Mo., — The state of Missouri on Dec. 14 accepted 144 miles of the Rock Island Trail into the parks system.

Mark Birk, Ameren Missouri senior vice-president for Customer and Power Operations represented Ameren at a ceremony Tuesday in Eldon’s Rock Island Park.

“Two years ago we stood together and announced the agreement with DNR (Department of Natural Resources),” Birk said. “It’s been great working with the state. The 114 miles of rail corridor will benefit small communities — it stretches through more than 20 towns in Missouri. We are happy to turn it over to the communities — a benefit to our state for years to come.”

Birk told nearly 100 people at the event, including the Eldon High School Jazz Band, that it is going to be neat to see it transform into a hiking and biking trail that has economic tourist attractions.

“It has a ways to go,” Birk said. “Clean up and removal is complete. I am excited to finally turn this over to Missouri State Parks.”

David Kelly, Missouri State Parks director, said they have been working to make the Rock Island corridor a part of the State Parks system.

“We took ownership of the Rock Island Spur five years ago and are pleased to accept the Rock Island Corridor as part of Missouri State Parks,” Kelly said. “The department owns and operates the Katy from Windsor to Pleasant Hill. This will expand Windsor to Beaufort — 144 miles of Rock Island and the southern complement to the Katy — the longest rail-trail in the country.”

Maggie Kost, acting director of the Department of Economic Development said there were many economic benefits to the Katy Trail and she looks forward to saying the same about the Rock Island Trail

“With the $2.7 million grant we can accomplish big, meaningful things,” Kost said.

Dru Buntin, Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director, said his department has maintained a right-of-entry on the trail since 2019 when the Rock Island Trail State Park Endowment fund was created.

“Ameren said they would give the railroad corridor to the state and the state would accept it if funding was able to be raised,” Buntin said about the 2019 event.

A little over $1 million has been raised and an additional $2.7 million grant awarded through the Department of Economic Development. State officials attending the ceremony pledged funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

“We are able to move forward,” Buntin said. “But we will need additional funds to move forward so it does not affect our other 92 state parks sites.”

John Riddick, Missouri State Parks Foundation president, used train analogies.

“Using the train analogy — a couple of years ago it was like we were all here at the station getting ready to leave,” Riddick said. “We can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but the train has left the station.”

Gov. Mike Parson was the last to speak at the ceremony and discussed the economic opportunity the trail will bring to Missouri. He opened up and got a few laughs reminiscing about the first time he was told about the trail.

“When John (Riddick) was in here speaking, I remember when I was lieutenant governor and he came to my office. I thought ‘you guys need how much money? To do what? Well, if I was governor, I’d help ya anyway I could!’ You gotta watch what you say. Now I’ve got to make a good on my commitment, which I am proud to do.”

Parson said the people that live in Missouri know how important the quality of life is.

“We should be there every day to help people make this place better,” Parson said.

He said the Rock Island Trail is important for families. 

“I want to thank everyone who has been involved in this project because these things are hard to do,” Parson said. “They don’t just happen. It takes a long time.”

He believes Rock Island Trail will be a great addition to the linear state park. It is the second rail-to-trail state park in the state.

“I want to see how this is going to benefit the state financially and how much we are going to get back from such a large taxpayer investment,” Parson began. “In 2020 the Katy Trail recorded nearly 500,000 visitors from Missouri and surrounding states across the nation. Much like the Katy Trail, we hope this new trail will support tourism and small business expansion.”

There are hundreds of businesses along the Katy Trail from wineries, restaurants, shops, hotels, and campgrounds. In the past, the Katy Trail generated nearly $18.5 million in yearly economic impact. The overall economic impact was projected at $8.2 million.

“We expect the development of the Rock Island Trail to have similar impacts on the both the economy, tourism, and recreation in our state,” Parson said. “Missouri industry is strong and this will help it grow stronger.”

In 2020, according to the governor, Missouri’s tourism industry attracted 36.3 million people to the state, generated $12.6 billion in taxable sales, had a $14.5 billion economic impact, contributed $484 million to state revenues, welcomed more than 312,000 people to Missouri welcome centers, and employed nearly 280,000 Missourians.

“We can build on that,” Parsons said. “That’s what tourism does for communities.”

Parson said if they have to invest millions of dollars at the state level to get the project complete, they will. It will be done in phases.

“We are going to have to have tremendous opportunity to change the needle in the state of Missouri, to make it better,” Parson said.

Buntin, Parson and Birk sat to sign the documents. Parson did not sign the documents, only passed them from the DNR director to the Ameren representative as the transaction takes place between the two departments.

Many of those present had been involved since the late 1980s, trying to convert the former railroad to a trail. Others joined the second wave in 2012. Brandi Horton with the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy said it typically takes 11 years to convert a railroad to a trail.

“I think this trail may have brought down our average because it took so long,” Horton said.

Attendees lingered at the event, sharing stories about meetings and successes.

The announcement to accept the trail was made just a week ago. Bruce Sassmann, state representative of the 62nd District and an avid trail supporter, was present at the event. When asked why the announcement was so sudden, Sassmann said the following.

“Someone from Economic Development was tasked with recommending to the governor how to spend federal ARPA funds and the trail was something recommended,” Sassmann said.