Park Safety Always Top Priority in St. Charles County

A new fountain was installed in the lake at the Broemmelsiek Park Off-Leash Dog Area.

Keeping the public safe is a top priority for the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department. One way we do this is by having staff proactively monitor lakes and other natural bodies of water in County Parks on a regular basis; keeping a careful watch for possible signs of anything that looks suspicious or out of place.

In addition, Parks staff have installed aerators and bubblers where possible in these natural bodies of water to keep them circulating to improve quality. They also have removed duckweed and other invasive plants that deprive the water of oxygen. Special attention has been given to the lake inside the Broemmelsiek Park Off-Leash Dog Area (featured in photo above) since it is frequently used by pets and their owners. Water conditions are monitored more frequently, fresh water is added on a regular basis, and a fountain has been installed to help keep water moving in the lake.

Along with staff efforts, park guests can also play a role in being more vigilant to ensure a safe experience while enjoying our parks. If you observe an issue in any of our 15 parks, please call the Park Ranger Duty Phone at 314-713-4394 immediately. This will allow your concerns to be addressed in an efficient manner.

Also, please pay careful attention to rules and safety signage posted by these natural water bodies: keep in mind that the Broemmelsiek Park Off-Leash Dog Park lake is the only lake where canines are allowed to swim. Public swimming is not allowed in St. Charles County Parks; Indian Camp Creek, Big Creek and Peruque Creek do allow swimming, but they are overseen and regulated by the State of Missouri.

The Parks Department thanks you in advance for reporting concerns and for following park regulations to ensure safety for all. To learn more about St. Charles County Parks, visit stccparks.org or call 636-949-7535.

New Meter Monitors Light Pollution at Broemmelsiek Park

Chuck Simms, ASEM and IDA Missouir member, delivers new sky monitoring meter.

A Sky Quality Meter (SQM) is being installed at the Astronomy Viewing Area at Broemmelsiek Park in Defiance to raise awareness and education the public on light pollution. The Parks Department was chosen to participate in this national sky monitoring program by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The Missouri Chapter of International Dark-Sky Association (IDA Missouri), in partnership with Truman University in Kirksville, and the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri (ASEM), is coordinating the installation of the SQM which will monitor sky brightness at the site while logging data for scientific analysis. The program raises awareness about light pollution issues in Missouri, promotes quality outdoor lighting, protects our natural environment and our beautiful night sky, and educates the public on how reducing light pollution can lower energy costs.

The device was purchased through funding provided by the NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium. The sky meter was delivered by Chuck Simms, a member of IDA Missouri and ASEM (featured in photo above) and will be on site for an ongoing period of time.

For more information, contact the ASEM at Outreach@asemonline.org.

Coming Soon: Self-Serve Watercraft Rentals!

New self-serve watercraft rentals will be installed soon at three St. Charles County Parks.

The Parks Department is expanding recreational activities by adding watercraft rentals at three of our parks! Guests will be able to reserve kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) using new self-serve iPaddlePort stations, the first of their kind in St. Charles County.

The new watercraft stations (featured in photo above) will be installed near Betty's Lake at Broemmelsiek Park in Defiance, at the lake at The Park at New Melle Lakes in New Melle and at Klondike Lake at Klondike Park in Augusta. Each self-serve station offer four single kayaks, two tandem kayaks, and two stand-up paddleboards; watercrafts can be reserved with a credit card and will be available on a first come, first serve basis during regular park business hours; 7 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset.

For more information about watercraft rentals, call the Parks Department at 636-949-7535.

Disc Golf Course Redesign

The 18-hole disc golf course at Quail Ridge Park in Wentzville is getting a facelift.

The 18-hole disc golf course at Quail Ridge Park in Wentzville is undergoing redesign. After the work is completed, the new layout will offer disc golfers an improved experience at the park.

Led by volunteers and members of the St. Charles County Disc Golf Club, the improvements to the course include moving and adding new T-pads to holes 5, 6 and 7, redesigning pin placements for holes 4, 5, 6 and 7 and adding new MVP Black Hole Portals for each hole. The project is expected to be completed this year.

The Quail Ridge Park course is one of four available for play in the St. Charles County Parks system. Others include an 18-hole 'champion' course at The Park at New Melle Lakes in New Melle, an 18-hole course at Indian Camp Creek Park in Foristell and a 9-hole course at College Meadows Park on the campus of St. Charles Community College in Cottleville.

Disc golf is one of the most popular sports to play in County Parks and is one of the fastest growing sports in America. Thousands of disc golfers participate in park tournaments and adult and youth leagues offered at the parks throughout the year. If you'd like to try your hand at this fun sport, you can check out a disc golf bag at your nearest St. Charles City-County Library. The bags are free to reserve with your library card and have everything you need to play!

Digital Park Activity Guide: Your Ticket to Fun!

The new 2019 Park Activity Guide is available!

The new 2019 Park Activity Guide is here! It's your ticket to fun in St. Charles County Parks through the end of the year.

Get spooked or enjoy some not-so-scary family-friendly fun with the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department this Halloween season. We’re hosting these spooktacular weekend events during the month of October:

Other fall events include:

Then, mark your calendar because the festivities continue into the winter months with these holiday favorites: