LAGOON: RECYCLED ROCK HELPS CUT COSTS OF PARK PROJECT

A long-awaited project to upgrade the Capaha Park lagoon is progressing through the use of city workers and materials retrieved from the pond.

Dan Muser, the Cape Girardeau parks and recreation director, said Tuesday that earlier estimates for the cost of the project ranged from $30,000 to nearly $100,000.

The improvements involve reinforcement of the banks of the lagoon, which have gradually been eroded. The banks have been a city maintenance problem for years.

But by doing the work "in-house" Muser said the cost will be much less. Concrete blocks used to "shore up" the banks of the lagoon were taken from the water, reducing costs further.

"The concrete squares we're using are already in the lagoon but over the years have slid down into the water," he said. "We basically dug them out and pulled them out of the water and stacked them up at various locations."

Muser said that by using the slabs of stone, city crews were able to reform and reinforce the bank to build a firm base for a new rock shoreline.

The work resulted in a natural walkway around the lagoon for strollers and children who fish in the pond.

"Our intention originally wasn't really to have a walkway but have the rocks at more of an angle," Muser said. "It turned out to be more of a walkway."

Muser said the project will help stabilize the banks and, hopefully, reduce future erosion. He said the improvements make the lagoon look better, but also makes it safer.

"There were some problems before with holes along the bank," he said. "It also will be easier to maintain and easier to keep the debris out of there. The lagoon is sort of the centerpiece of Capaha Park, and this is a project that we've talked about doing for a number of years."

The parks and recreation director said that by doing the project with money in the regular parks maintenance budget, the city was able to save taxpayers money.

"It's being done with a shoestring-type budget," he said. "I think it's a good example of saving the citizens some money by using materials on hand and city personnel."

Plans also call for the erection on the east side of the lagoon of a concrete platform or "observation pad," Muser said. He said the platform will have a slight curb on the lagoon side and will be handicapped accessible.

"You'll be able to come into the parking lot there and have easy access to this pad," he added. "It should be pretty nice when we get done."

Muser said he's already received a lot of positive comments about the work, along with questions about whether the improvements will hold up.

Members of the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board last week also had praise for the project.

"I think it's something that will be easy to maintain," he said. "If we have any problems, it's basically just a matter of adding some more rock.

"I know the maintenance will be a lot easier than what it is now."

Muser said the city plans to reform the entire lagoon bank, but because the work is being done with city workers, who have other obligations, he doesn't know when the project will be completed.