MONEY FOR SHAWNEE, OSAGE PARK DEVELOPMENTS STANDS AT $60,000

Money for the Shawnee and Osage park development projects in Cape Girardeau are still a long way from the capital campaign goal of $600,000.

But Jay Knudtson, vice president of the board of directors for the campaign, said there are still corporate sponsors that have yet to specify how much they will pledge.

Knudtson said the capital campaign has raised $175,000 thus far. Once corporations have reviewed the projects and determine how much they will pledge, the board will know how close they will come to their goal.

The capital campaign is expected to wind down at the end of September.

"We have set that as the closing date, but we're not going to bind ourselves to that if we feel we can still raise enough funds to meet our goal," said Knudtson.

Total cost of the projects has been set at $3 million. The bulk of the money has been raised by revenue bonds authorized by voters. The money will come from surplus city tourism taxes.

The Shawnee Park development is on schedule to be completed by spring 1995. Grading has been completed in the park for a softball complex of five fields designed for league play and tournaments.

In Osage Park construction of a 34,000-square-foot multiuse building, to be used for recreation programs, conventions, large meetings, and special events, is planned. The area will be developed as a park and a Cape LaCroix hiking and biking trail will run through it.

The Osage Park complex has fallen behind schedule because of grading problems, but the project is expected to be completed by fall 1995 or spring 1996.