DNR
Home PageINPUT SOUGHT ON REDEVELOPMENT OF JOHNSON'S SHUT-INS STATE PARK
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MARCH 24, 2006 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input on the redevelopment of Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park near Lesterville. This process will begin with a series of open houses and informational meetings April 3, 4 and 5 throughout the state.
The redevelopment of the park follows the Dec.14 breach of the Taum Sauk Reservoir, which flooded the main area of the park and damaged most of its facilities along the East Fork of the Black River. Issues expected to be addressed include the potential relocation of the campground, the reconnection of the Ozark Trail, safe access to the East Fork of the Black River, and enhanced interpretation.
Open houses for input on the long-term redevelopment of Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park will be held at the following dates and locations:
- April 3 -- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lesterville High School, Hwy. 21 and Elm in Lesterville;
- April 4 -- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Conference Center, 1738 E. Elm St. in Jefferson City;
- April 4 -- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Farmington High School cafeteria at 1 Black Knight Drive in Farmington;
- April 5 -- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at St. Louis County Library, Oak Bend Branch, 842 S. Holmes Ave. (north of Big Bend).
This long-term redevelopment plan will closely follow the regular conceptual development plan process used for all state parks and historic sites, but this one will be at an accelerated pace. Following the April series of open houses for initial input, two more rounds of meetings will be held. The goal is to have a redevelopment plan in place by early fall.
In addition to the open houses, the public may comment on the redevelopment of the park through an online survey, which will be available March 31 at www.mostateparks.com/jshutinsdamage.htm.
Another aspect of the park redevelopment includes restoration of the portion of the East Fork of the Black River that flows through Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park. The stream above the shut-ins was significantly impacted by the flood, which filled it with sand and boulders and blocked the channel with a large rock dam. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the stream restoration concept and schedule, which the department hopes to implement this summer.
The stream restoration plan will be presented at two informational meetings scheduled for the following dates and places:
- April 3 at 7 p.m. at the Lesterville High School, Hwy. 21 and Elm in Lesterville;
- April 5 at 7 p.m. at the St. Louis County Library -- Oak Bend Branch, 842 S. Holmes Ave. (north of Big Bend).
The public can view the plan online beginning March 31 at www.mostateparks.com/jshutinsdamage.htm. The plan also is available for review at the following locations (most of these locations are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday):
- The Lesterville Branch Library on Hwy. 21 in Lesterville; (open Tuesday and Thursday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday).
- Fort Davidson State Historic Site, 118 E. Maple St. in Pilot Knob;
- The Department of Natural Resources' Division of State Parks main office at 1659 E. Elm St. in Jefferson City; and
- The Department of Natural Resources' Division of State Parks District Offices at 2901 Highway 61 in Festus, 600 W. Lockling in Brookfield, and 2390 S. Jefferson in Lebanon.
Comments on the stream restoration plan will be accepted until May 2, 2006, and should be sent to Black River Stream Restoration Team, 3199 Riverport Tech Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63043.
For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit the Web at www.mostateparks.com.
