Watch Us Grow!

• On Saturday, Aug. 18, the FREE public boat ramp opens at Riverside Landing. The ramp at the 7.73-acre park, located along the Mississippi River near Portage des Sioux between Kampville Drive and Huster Road will be available just in time for the weekend's Blessing of the Fleet festivities. The property will close again this winter to undergo major renovations that include adding a pavilion, camping facilities, playground, new boat ramp and docks, kayak launch area and public restrooms. Following construction, Riverside Landing is anticipated to reopen to the public in 2019.
  
  
• We're kicking off the soft opening of The Park at New Melle Lakes, a 410-acre park located on Foristell Road near Highway Z, with an inaugural disc golf tournament at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 23. Disc golf enthusiasts can be among the first to play on the "champion" 18-hole premiere course! There are only 72 spots available and pre-registration is required by Wednesday, Sept. 19. Cost is $15 per round and includes one commemorative disc for each round, lunch, and closest to the pin (CTP) prizes. To register for the tournament, call the parks department at 636-949-7535 or visit us online. On Saturday, Sept. 29, guests are invited back to continue the soft opening celebration. Activities include fishing on the park's 26-acre lake, hiking and biking along 4 miles of paved trails, and more opportunites to play disc golf.
  
  
•  Veterans Tribute Park, located off Highway 94 between Pitman Hill and Kisker roads is expected to open later this fall. The 120-acre park includes a veterans memorial, destination playground for children of all abilities, interactive water feature, raised boardwalk, 3-acre off-leash dog park, paved walking trails, two multi-acre fully-stocked lakes, three open-play fields, and three shelters. More information about the opening date and festivies will be released soon.

Pollinator Prairies Planted    

Everything’s coming up wildflowers at Broemmelsiek Park, thanks to the assistance of the Missouri Master Naturalists, Confluence Chapter. As part of a Community Conservation Grant, the Master Naturalists acquired $10,000 in funding to convert three large fields into pollinator prairies in the park. 

Broemmelsiek Park is located at 1795 Highway DD near Defiance.The park's beautiful prairies total 10 acres and are sowed with native wildflower and grass species that are beneficial to butterflies, bees and other wildlife in the park. The new pollinator-friendly sites provide the declining bee and butterfly population the plants they need to survive.  

Prairies at the park include the 5-acre site south of Shelter #7, the 2.5-acre site near the parking lot of Hilltop Pavilion and a 2.5-acre prairie near the dog park. Other prairies are in progress at Quail Ridge Park near Wentzville, Indian Camp Creek Park near Wentzville, Klondike near Augusta, and Towne Park near Wentzville.  

For more information about the pollinator prairies, visit the Missouri Master Naturalists website or contact Alberta McGilligan, Confluence Chapter President, by email.

Get Your Groove On!

The Concerts in the Park series is bigger and better than ever! Bring the family, blankets and lawn chairs, then sit back and relax to the tunes of talented local musicians.

The entertainment schedule includes:

• Johnny Henry Trio, 6–8:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 25, Youth Activity Park, 7801 Highway N in Dardenne Prairie
  
  
• Encore Trio, 6–8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 8, Youth Activity Park
  
  
• Lenny Frisch Duo, 6–8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22, Heritage Museum, 1630 Heritage Landing near St. Charles
  
  
• Zydeco Crawdaddys, 6–8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 5, Youth Activity Park
  
  
• 4th Street Band, 12–3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 8, Broemmelsiek Park, 1795 Highway DD near Defiance
  
  
• The People’s Band, 6–8:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 21, Broemmelsiek Park
  
  
• Arvell and Company, 6–8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 3, Quail Ridge Park, 560 Interstate Drive near Wentzville

No glass containers or bottles are allowed in the parks and no alcoholic beverages are allowed at the Youth Activity Park. The YAP Café concession stand features tasty treats for purchase at the Youth Activity Park; food trucks will be at the other parks. Picnic baskets also are welcome. Anyone wishing to use the skate park at the Youth Activity Park must have a season pass or pay the daily entry fee. Helmets are required and a waiver must be completed by a parent or guardian. For more information, call the parks department at 636-949-7535 or visit stccparks.org.