COUNTY COMMISSION REORGANIZES PARK BOARD

JACKSON -- The Cape Girardeau County Commission appointed two new members to the Planning and Recreation Board, which oversees the County Park on Highway 61.

Virgil Chirnside and David Hitt recently were appointed to the board. Hitt has served on the Jackson Park Board for six years.

John Allgood and Board Chairman Bob Wilhite are the other two members of the four-member board.

Along with the appointments, the commission released a new mission statement for the board. It says the Recreation Board members are entrusted with improving the county park and its activities, developing a master plan for the parks and finding money for landscaping and shelters.

County commissioners met with the reorganized board on Thursday.

"County Park is the front door to Cape Girardeau, and what a fabulous front door," Commissioner Joe Gambill said. "We want you to make it better."

Park users can expect to see more and larger shelters and perhaps a nature trail through 25 wooded acres purchased a few years ago. County workers will try to cultivate more wildlife, including deer, turkeys, quail and fox.

Board members will be charting the use of the tennis courts to see if they should be kept or replaced.

The board also wants to establish more parking for the existing shelters.

Wilhite, the chairman, said the addition of new members is a good idea.

"It will help to get some insight from other people," he said. "And the present County Commission has been easy to work with. They're willing to spend money on the park."