WATER PLANT PURCHASE MAY INCLUDE PARK LAND

Most voters won't consider expansion of Cape Girardeau's park lands a crucial component of a city proposal to purchase Union Electric Co.'s water system.

But City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said the proposal could include Union Electric property across from Cape Rock Park.

"We've got 20-plus acres there already, and, if the citizens vote to allow us to purchase the water system, that would include the property where the water plant is," Fischer said.

The city manager said Union Electric also owns a 10-acre tract across Cape Rock Drive from the water plant that might be included in the transaction.

"I'm assuming that's probably part of the Union Electric land for future development," he said.

Fischer said he had no idea whether that property would be included in the transaction should voters approve the city's purchase of the water system. But he said it would be a welcome addition to Cape Rock Park across the street.

"They might have no need to keep that land and would include it with the purchase, but I certainly am not assuming that," he said.

"Right now, the budget is pretty restricted, and even if we could get the land, there's no way we could get the funds for any kind of development.

"But certainly in the future it would be a very nice addition, along with the other acreage we have in that area."

City Planner Kent Bratton said the heavily wooded area across from the water plant already features a fountain and circle drive.

He said a former head of the Missouri Division of Parks identified the tract as a significant natural site in Southeast Missouri.

"He basically researched a seven-county region of Southeast Missouri and identified that site as having a unique quality," Bratton said. "I don't remember what exactly it was at this point, but it apparently has some unique vegetation and trees."

Bratton said that even if the land were added to the city's parks property, there likely would be little future development.

"There would not be any intensive development," he said. "It's too rugged for that anyway, and we don't want to disturb the natural element there.

"It would basically be more of a nature area, which fits in with the part of Cape Rock Park that's there already."

Fischer also said a "natural area" would best conform with Cape Rock Park and, further north, Twin Trees Park, Juden Creek Natural History Area and the Kelso Wildlife Sanctuary.

Fischer said that when the Cape Special Road District deeded Cape Rock Park to the city in 1974, it determined that the land was to be left in its natural state with little development.

"We feel that the tract adjacent to there would fit into that sort of development, to be enjoyed in its natural state," Fischer said. "There is a little fountain there, and a little circle drive so people could drive in and enjoy the area."

Fischer said Union Electric has maintained the property along with the water plant. He said the fountain area has been used as a park by city's residents in years past.

"It's sort of a piece of history," he said. "I can remember as a little boy on weekends we would take a trip around Cape Rock and go by the water plant. That was always a nice little place to pull off."

Fischer said the replacement of Twin Trees bridge north of the park on Cape Rock Drive will be completed soon, and it will open the popular, scenic route to "Sunday drivers."

Last month the Missouri Department of Conservation purchased the eight-acre Juden Creek tract to connect Twin Trees Park with the Kelso Wildlife Sanctuary. Twin Trees Park, which is owned by the city, consists of 62 acres and Kelso Sanctuary totals 148 acres.

The natural history area links the three nature areas as a continuous wildlife preservation site within Cape Girardeau a short distance from Cape Rock Park. The area also is bordered to the north and west by the Cape Girardeau Country Club and to the east by bluffs sloping to the Mississippi River.

Cape Girardeau voters will decide Nov. 5 whether to authorized issuance of $11.8 million in revenue bonds to buy the citywide water system from Union Electric.

That price includes $8.5 million for the water system and additional funds for operating costs and system improvements.