Missouri not considering selling 4 closed state parks

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. � Missouri officials say the state is not planning to sell four new state parks.

Former Gov. Jay Nixon�s administration bought the four parks, but they haven�t been opened. The possibility of selling the parks was mentioned in the Legislature and the park division, as Missouri tries to solve a $200 million maintenance backlog at its other parks.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Ben Ellis, director of Missouri State Parks, said last week the state isn�t considering selling the parks at the present time.

The parks are Ozark Mountain State Park in Taney County; Jay Nixon State Park in Reynolds and Iron counties; and Bryant Creek State Park in Douglas County. A lawsuit has been filed challenging the legality of the fourth park, Eleven Point State Park in Oregon County.

Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com