DNR
Home PageJOHNSON'S SHUT-INS STATE PARK CLOSES FOR REDEVELOPMENT
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 29, 2006 -- Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park near Lesterville will close Monday, Oct. 2, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today.
The park was heavily damaged Dec. 14 by the breach in the Taum Sauk Reservoir, which flooded it with 1.3 billion gallons of water. Most of the park's facilities along the East Fork of the Black River were either damaged or destroyed. Cleanup of trees, debris and silt began immediately. The department was able to reopen the park May 27 for the summer to let visitors see the cleanup efforts in the park.
The park will close so that work can begin on the redevelopment. Plans for the long-term redevelopment of the park and stream restoration have been under development since spring. These plans were developed after seeking public input in May and the proposed plan was presented to the public during August and early September.
The department anticipates that Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park will be fully operational in 2008. AmerenUE, which is responsible for the redevelopment, believes it can accelerate redevelopment to allow public access to the shut-ins and the park's portion of the East Fork of the Black River in 2007. The timeframe for redevelopment depends on several factors, including the details of the final plan, weather, and how quickly AmerenUE's contractor can make it happen.
For more information on Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, call the park directly at 573-546-2450 or the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit the Web at www.mostateparks.com.
