STATE CONSERVATION UNIT BUYS LAND IN CITY LIMITS

The Missouri Department of Conservation recently purchased about eight acres of property that will connect Cape Girardeau's Twin Trees Park to Southeast Missouri State University's Kelso Wildlife Sanctuary.

The purchase of the Juden Creek Natural History Area now links the three nature areas as a continuous wildlife preservation site within the Cape Girardeau city limits.

Southeast Missouri State will maintain the new wildlife area through a lease agreement with the state department, said J.O. Snowden, dean of the university's College of Science and Technology.

"What they are offering to do is lease it to the university for $1 for a 25-year period and we'll do the maintenance and that sort of thing," Snowden said. "This is still in the negotiations stage and will have to go through the pipeline.

"But as far as I know, the paperwork and everything will be just fine and we'll go ahead with it. It's kind of an exciting thing to have this in the city limits of Cape Girardeau."

Snowden said the department purchased the property under its Urban Wildlife Habitat and Open Space program, which earmarks funds to develop natural history areas in cities.

"The idea of this is to preserve a few acres of natural landscapes within urban areas," he said. "They plan to do some very minimal improvements.

"There's a site at the north end of it that's suitable for an eight to 10 vehicle parking lot, and there might be some possible nature trails, but basically they would keep it in its natural state."

In a letter to Snowden, Donald R. Kurz, the assistant chief of the department's Natural History Division, said:

"We are excited about the opportunity to work with the university and coordinate with the city in providing an outstanding area for public enjoyment and instruction."

Dan Muser, Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation director, said he thinks the new nature area will enhance the stretch of land in the north end of the city from Cape Rock Park near the Cape Girardeau Country Club, through Twin Trees Park, the new tract and the Kelso Sanctuary.

"As far as I'm concerned, it enhances that entire area," Muser said. "It's a good buffer for our park as well as the bird sanctuary."

Cape Girardeau City Planner Kent Bratton said the city's been interested in the eight acres for years.

"It's been there for a long time, and it's something I've wanted preserved," he said. "In talking with the Department of Conservation, that subject came up and I told them we didn't have any money to buy it."

Bratton said the city asked the state department to purchase the property in order to assure that it would remain undeveloped.

"We didn't want something to happen up there that would disturb the area," he said. "It's a good acquisition for everybody involved. It kinds of ties everything together."

The long, narrow tract of land runs north from Twin Trees Park to the Kelso Sanctuary. Twin Trees Park, which is owned by the city, consists of 62 acres, and Kelso Sanctuary totals 148 acres.

Snowden said the department contacted the university about maintaining the property shortly after discussing the proposal with the city.

He said the maintenance contract restricts development of the tract without the Conservation Department's permission.

"We cannot alter the face of the land in any fashion, erect any structures, or really do anything without approval," he said. "It's similar to the type of agreement we have for the Kelso Wildlife Sanctuary."

Snowden said that although the university will be unable to alter the tract significantly, he expects some minor improvements to the property.

"My guess is the biologists will try to reintroduce some native plant species that may have disappeared," he said. "But that will be up to them how they want to handle it in cooperation with the commission."