JEFFERSON CITY聽鈥 A quiet swath of green along a busy corridor of north 蜜芽传媒 County is in line for a makeover designed to lure more urban residents into nature.
The Bellefontaine Conservation Area, a public park at the intersection of Interstate 270 and Lewis and Clark Boulevard, will be part of a first-ever study overseen by state officials that could result in new features in the 133-acre parcel.
Aisha Muhammad, community conservation planner for the Missouri Department of Conservation, said the public park has not been highly utilized and is likely not as well-known as other MDC conservation areas.
鈥淚 would say this is a unique challenge as we move forward to assess how we can make the area more accessible, user-friendly and more highly visited,鈥 Muhammad said.
The Department of Conservation has more than 1,000 public open spaces scattered around Missouri that are open for hiking, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities.
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The Bellefontaine unit is among a handful of those in urban areas. It includes one lake and three ponds which are stocked with black bass, white bass, catfish and sunfish.聽
The property, much of it shielded from traffic on I-270 by a band of forest, shares a driveway with the Missouri Veterans Home.
The mostly flat parcel of grassland and band of forest was acquired by the Department of Conservation from the state Department of Mental Health in the 1990s because of its potential as an urban fishing and nature education spot.
A state facility for the developmentally disabled borders to the east and a state-run nursing home for military veterans is located in the southwest quadrant.
This spring, the department issued a call for vendors to conduct a study in surrounding communities to determine what kinds of features residents would like to see at the facility.
In bidding documents, the agency suggests there could be additional programs and activities in the park.
鈥淭he department would be able to provide things such as mowed paths as walking trails, wayfinding and interpretive signage and installation of natural community habitats such as rain gardens, pollinator plots, prairie reconstructions (and) wetlands,鈥 the proposal says.
The goal is to learn about old, ongoing and new community projects to understand what community members in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Castle Point and Spanish Lake believe is important, what they'd like to improve, as well as what they take pride in, the department said.
Muhammad said the outreach is a first for the department.
鈥淭his is our first time conducting community engagement regarding use of an MDC conservation area, so we do not have any other results to report or compare,鈥 she said.
Under the plan, the vendor is expected to conduct focus groups and listening session with a goal of hosting a 鈥渘ature-based family fun day event鈥 at the area when the study is complete.
鈥淭he contractor and the department will keep the community鈥檚 visions and goals at the forefront of how we make improvements to Bellefontaine CA,鈥 the agency said.
Muhammad said the process is expected to take about one year.
鈥淚 would say this is a unique challenge as we move forward to assess how we can make the area more accessible, user-friendly and more highly visited,鈥 she said.
Earth Day is an annual event held on April 22 to show support for the protection of the environment and our planet. Here are three ways that you can safely celebrate this important date. One of the best ways to connect with the Earth is through cleanups. Go on a walk and help to clean up any plastic that you find. Perhaps you know of a nearby ditch or drainage area around the corner that is polluted with trash. Earth Day is also National Parks Week. So be sure to plan a trip to a national park or even explore the green spaces around you. This Earth Day, be sure to plant a tree in your garden. Not only do they reduce pollution, but also protect against disease. You can even talk to your local government about planting more trees and native garden beds in public spaces.
