May 25, 2018
St. Charles County, Missouri - In March, the St. Charles County Parks Department closed on the purchase of 7.73 acres of land between Kampville Drive and Huster Road along the Mississippi River.
Formerly the site of the privately-owned Riverside Harbor, the County envisions that this property will be used to promote outdoor recreation on the Mississippi River and Dardenne Creek, such as kayaking, canoeing, boating and other water sports, as well as camping, fishing and hunting. This segment of the Mississippi River, known as Alton Lake, is 40,000 acres and 38 miles long and is a popular summer destination close to home.
The new park property with existing boat ramp will be known as Riverside Landing and will reopen to the public in late summer. It will close this winter for a major renovation that will include camping (electric and full hook-ups), a pavilion, water play area and playground, new boat ramp and docks, kayak launch area and public restrooms. The St. Charles County Council will vote Tuesday, May 29, on a contract for design services for these new amenities. If approved, the planned schedule would result in the new park opening in 2019.
“We have discussed the possibility of constructing a ‘blue way’ with a kayak launching area at 370 Lakeside Park with the City of St. Peters,” says St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann. “This will provide residents and visitors the opportunity to float approximately two miles on Dardenne Creek to the Riverside Landing. And, we are looking at ways to connect to the Boschert Greenway and trails in the City of St. Charles. This will be a great park for those who want to explore the outdoors by boat, bike or foot.”
The St. Charles County Parks system began in 1997, late for a county parks system as most were developing in the early to mid-1900s. Voters elected that year to pass a dedicated use tax that created the regional parks system. Just 20 years young, the Parks Department still is acquiring park acreage to ensure that greenspace is protected in St. Charles County and that the regional county parks system that voters wanted continues to grow.
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Media Contact: Mary Enger, Communications Director, 636-949-1856, or 636-443-1008, menger@sccmo.org