Some long needed repairs are being addressed at Roadside Park which fronts U.S. Highway 50 between Main Street and W. Springfield Ave. The north side of this park is now owned by Missouri State Parks …
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Some long needed repairs are being addressed at Roadside Park which fronts U.S. Highway 50 between Main Street and W. Springfield Ave. The north side of this park is now owned by Missouri State Parks and the southern edge is controlled by MoDOT.
A horribly broken sidewalk was removed Monday. A new metal culvert will be run from a low spot in the parking lot across the street to a drainage ditch in the park. That drainage ditch will be excavated to provide better water flow and rock will be added. W. Springfield Ave is expected to be closed for the culvert replacement.
For years this park has been privately maintained. In the early 1900s the park had a two-story rotunda and Sunday concerts in the park were held regularly. The park was often used as a community gathering place. In the 1950s and 1960s it was mowed by John Finley whose family owned the drugstore across the highway. Later the Gerald Area Chamber of Commerce made sure the grass was cut and made minor improvements to the park. Now the city cuts the grass. Volunteers maintain a flower bed there and other volunteers pick up trash and trim the trees.
This same group of volunteers is now working with both state and national parks systems to develop a plan to turn the unsightly drainage ditch into a thing of beauty.
Leveling the ditch will eliminate the two pools which now hold stagnant water. The group then plans to use native plants to filter the water, stop erosion and provide some beauty. Finally, the north end of the ditch will have a layer of river rock added to provide a wading area when water flows. Eventually, when funds allow, the group would like to add a footbridge across the ditch.
Parker Cahill with the National Parks Service is working closely with the group to develop a conceptual plan to present to Missouri State Parks for their approval.
This group will hold a fund-raiser for this and other Roadside Park projects this Saturday at the Small Animal Swap in Legion Park. They will be selling seeds, plants, garden accessories and baked goods. They will also have their plans for the park on display.
