COUNTY PARKS GROUP WILL SOLICIT MEMORIALS

The Cape Girardeau County Parks Commission has created a program to solicit memorials for contributions for trees, planters, benches, picnic tables and shelters.

The memorial program was developed by an expanded Board of Park Commissioners.

For a donation of $75 or more toward park improvements, a plaque can be placed in the park in honor of, in memory of or donated by an individual or organization.

"The new honors and memorials program developed by the park commissioners will aid our park development," said county commissioner Max Stovall.

"Several times each year families ask about making donations to our parks," said Joe Sherinski, park commission chairman. "We now have a formal plan of action."

The memorial program was developed in conjunction with the walking trail and arboretum in the North Park. The arboretum will feature 144 trees and will be educational, with 50 varieties of trees labeled along the walk. It will also provide shade for walkers along the milelong asphalt walking trail completed this summer.

A $75 donation is the minimum cost to plant a tree in the arboretum, Sherinski said. Some trees will cost more. Donations could go toward other fixtures like picnic tables, planters and park benches.

"We've been designing and planning this for some time now," Sherinski said. "Suddenly it's actually starting to come together."

The Cape County North Park has 189 acres, two fishing lakes, nine shelters, five playgrounds, two hiking trails and a new walking trail. The South Park has 84 acres, one fishing lake, four shelters, five playgrounds and two hiking trails, including one designed for the handicapped.

Last year, more than 1,200 groups used pavilions in the parks.