RESIDENT HOPES FOR EXPANDED VIEW AT PARK

Cape Girardeau's best view of the Mississippi River could easily be hidden.

At least that's what Martin Robinson thinks. Robinson, a resident of Cape Girardeau, wants the city to develop the areas surrounding Cape Rock Park and open up the spectacular view of the river.

City parks officials don't disagree with Robinson, they just haven't put the park's development at the top of their list for construction projects.

Parks Director Dan Muser said much of the project would depend on what development means -- whether it would be a surfaced path and benches or just a natural trail winding down the slope from the rock promontory.

Now anyone with a vehicle can get to the park and see a view of the river. "Certainly a walking trail would give a different view," he said.

The city had once looked at building a trail along the ridge leading down to the river but construction at the city's water treatment plant put that project on hold, Muser said.

During construction, some trees and underbrush were cleared away opening up an area of the river not before seen near Cape Rock Park.

Since the construction got under way, the park project hadn't been put on any sort of construction schedule for the department. That was until Robinson suggested that the parks and recreation advisory board consider developing the area around Cape Rock Park.

The parks board recently adopted its master plan for development and future land use. The plan must still be adopted by the city council and likely will be considered as part of an overall facilities plan for the city.

Robinson hopes the parks department will develop Cape Rock Park and the adjoining nature areas so that visitors to the city get a better view of the Mississippi River.

"The Mississippi River is something that's great for our country and that makes our town important," he told the parks board earlier this month.

He wants people to appreciate the scenic value of the river. There are few other places in town where people can get an elevated view of the river. Dozens of visitors head to the Riverfront Park for an up-close view of the mighty Mississippi, he said.

Robinson wants people to know they're looking at the river from atop Cape Rock Park, he said.

He suggests that the city develop the entire acreage and make a walking trail down to the river area. Muser has said the parks board will again look into that possibility.

"It is something that could be done and we're interested in it," he said. But in order to clear out an area so that people atop the rock could clearly see the river, it might jeopardize the slope of the hill.

"In some cases, the vines are the only things that keep the hill from eroding," Muser said. Cutting out trees and underbrush could pose problems if it means taking out red bud and dogwood trees, he said.

"We're not opposed to seeing the river," Muser said. But the park development would have to consider other aspects, he added.

The 21.3 acres of Cape Rock Park adjoin Twin Trees park and the Juden Creek area owned by the Missouri Conservation Department. The Audubon Society also owns an adjacent piece of land that is used as a bird sanctuary.

Southeast Missouri State University owns between 120 and 150 acres of nearby land, so the entire area is primarily a nature preserve, but in an unofficial sense, city planners said.

All the property adjoins and there are no barriers preventing people from walking through the parks and conservation areas, Muser said.

Adding a path to Cape Rock Park wouldn't be like adding a segment to the Cape LaCroix Trail, Muser said. That trail links several of the city's parks by way of a paved hiking and biking path.

Anything that would be developed at Cape Rock Park would use deer runs and require that there be "minimal areas where we have to take out vegetation," Muser said.

A trail already exists opposite the water treatment plant where a fountain sits. The fountain had been owned and maintained by the Cape Girardeau Country Club until the piece of land was swapped for an area adjoining the golf course.

When that swap took place, a trail was developed that followed an existing path, Muser said. "We looked for a way to make it accessible but keep it natural."