NATURE CENTER CONSTRUCTION COULD BEGIN NEXT FALL

JACKSON, Mo. -- Construction could begin next fall on a $4.7 million, Missouri Department of Conservation nature center in Cape Girardeau County Park North.

"Everything is still a go," said Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones. The county commission discussed the project with Conservation Department officials in Jefferson City, Mo., last week.

The county commission plans to issue about $5 million in bonds to finance construction of the center, and the Conservation Department would pay back the county over 10 years.

Construction of the 19,000-square-foot, single-story structure could take 16 to 18 months, with a projected opening in summer 2003.

Zoning request

The center isn't the only development planned in that area. The Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission has voted to recommend the City Council approve a request from Dan and Jim Drury of MidAmerica Hotels Corp. to rezone land bordering the park at Interstate 55 and U.S. 61 from residential to commercial.

Planning and zoning officials say the Drurys haven't disclosed their plans for the property. The site in past years has been mentioned as a possible site for a hotel and restaurants.

The county commission had talked of issuing bonds for the nature center, but in November, commissioners said they wouldn't issue bonds without a funding guarantee from the Conservation Department.

The Conservation Department said it couldn't pledge state tax revenue without violating the state Constitution but could enter into a lease-purchase arrangement.

Jones said this week that Conservation Department officials have agreed to provide the "legal documents" for the county commission to proceed with issuing bonds.

The county will provide the land for the building through a 99-year lease. "The building will belong to the Conservation Department," Jones said.

Design work is under way, said Keith Lesko, project manager for the Conservation Department. The Columbia, Mo., architectural firm of Peckham and Wright will design the building.

Lesko said the nature center could include earthquake and swamp exhibits. The project also includes some trails in the park.

The structure will be built near the Conservation Department regional headquarters building in the park, eliminating the need to relocate the war memorial as had once been proposed.

An entrance road will be built to replace the old one, and the lower lake will be drained and turned into a wetlands area. Parking will be added.

The Conservation Department and the county will share in the cost of running a sewer line to the park.

Jones said the project has been scaled back from $6.5 million, but could rise if private donations were secured.