COUNTY MAY SEEK PARK LAND ANNEXATION

JACKSON -- The Cape Girardeau County Commission is considering asking the city of Cape Girardeau to annex the remainder of the county's North Park.

In addition to easing expansion of city services into the parks, county commissioners hope that annexation might make a future Missouri Department of Conservation nature center possible.

The county South Park and most of the North Park are already within city limits. Last year the county purchased about 49 acres between the entrance to the park and the future site of Lynnwood Baptist Church. About 38 acres is outside the city.

County Commissioner Max Stovall said the commission would like to entice the Conservation Department to build a nature center on the new property.

Ken Drenon of the Missouri Department of Conservation said a nature center for Cape Girardeau isn't in the capital plans. "But that doesn't mean some time down the road something might not occur," he said.

Stovall said a $3 million to $5 million nature center project is envisioned. Similar centers operate in Jefferson City, St. Louis and Springfield.

A nature center is different from the conservation building already in use at the park, Drenon said.

"They are more interpretive-oriented," Drenon said. "They have a staff to conduct programs, lead tours and teach conservation. They are geared to groups."

The centers are administrated by the education division of the Conservation Department.

The building in Cape Girardeau offers some educational services but is primarily an office building for field staff in the southeast region.

Regardless of whether a nature center is built at the park, Stovall said annexation will improve the parks.

"It's really a win-win situation," Stovall said.

Annexation would ease expansion of city sewers into the North Park, explained Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones. The park currently has both a sewage lagoon and septic tanks. The South Park is already served by city sewers and water.

In addition, city water lines into the park could be expanded and the city could provide expanded police and fire protection.

Stovall would like to have the property annexed within the year.

Larry Bock, county commissioner, said, "I couldn't really see any negatives involved."

The commission will meet with city officials to work out details of who would pay for expansions and new sewer lines. The county would still own the park property.

Cape Girardeau City Planner Kent Bratton said if the commission would like to have the land annexed, the city is also interested.

"It's to everyone's advantage," Bratton said.

"It doesn't really matter who owns the property," Bratton said. "The owner of the property can petition the council and the council can annex the property by ordinance."

The process would take about 90 days.

In the South Park, 25 acres of property is being developed as a nature trail with handicap accessibility. People in wheelchairs will be able to navigate the trail, Stovall explained. Work on a road and parking lot for the trail has begun.

The North County Park totals 167 acres. The South County Park is 84 acres.