PARKS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION LAUNCHES FIRST CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

The Cape Girardeau Parks Development Foundation kicked off the first-ever capital campaign for the city's parks Tuesday.

Judy Wilferth, chairman of the foundation board, announced the campaign hopes to raise $500,000 to supplement city funding of two major projects at Shawnee and Osage parks.

It was also announced that JCPenney has pledged $20,000 to pay the cost of a Shawnee Park entrance sign; and St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital will each contribute $12,500 toward construction of an elevated walking track in the multi-use center, to be constructed at Osage Park.

Officials from the two hospitals and JCPenney attended Tuesday's press conference.

Wilferth announced the campaign kickoff on the steps of the A.C. Brase Arena Building under an overcast sky.

But the cloudy weather didn't dampen the spirits of those gathered. Inside the Arena building, two sheet cakes depicted the planned park improvements in various colors of icing.

The projects at Shawnee and Osage parks carry a price tag of more than $4 million. Most of the funding will come from the city's motel and restaurant taxes.

The corporate portion of the fund drive commenced six weeks ago, Wilferth said, but the capital drive didn't officially begin until Tuesday.

"Over the years the businesses, service clubs, organizations and many individuals have been supportive of parks in Cape Girardeau," she noted.

"With this campaign, we hope to build on that tradition to complete the Shawnee and Osage Park projects," she said.

Once that's done, Wilferth said, the foundation "will continue to serve as a valuable tool" for future park projects.

The Shawnee Park project, in the south part of the city, includes construction of a softball complex of five fields and a concession building, which park officials say will provide a first-class facility for league play and tournaments.

A second phase of the project will include three additional fields. In addition, a four-field expansion of the city's soccer complex is planned.

At Osage Park along North Kingshighway, a 34,000-square-foot, multi-use building will be built. It would be used for recreation programs, conventions, large meetings and special events.

Eventually the area will be developed as a park, and the Cape LaCroix Hiking/Biking Trail will run through the grounds.

Site preparation work is almost completed at both sites, said Dan Muser, director of parks and recreation.

The Shawnee Park project is expected to be completed by next April, with the community center to be finished by the fall of 1995.

"A park is a priceless gem," said Councilman Melvin Gateley, one of several officials who were on hand for the press conference.

"This is exciting news. It reaches out to the future," said Gateley, adding that the projects would have an economic impact on the community.

Jay Knudtson, a member of both the park board and the foundation board, said the private funding is needed so the projects can be done right.

"We don't want to do anything halfway. We want to do it all the way," he said.