Proposed Southeast Regional Park Master Plan Comming Soon!

Park planning staff is getting ready to publicly release draft master plans for the Philips Lake Park and the Gans Creek Recreation Area (purchased from the Crane family). Together, these two tracts of land satisfies the City's needs for a regional park in the southeast.

If you'd like to receive a copy or be directed when they are available, please go to our webmail site and add your email address to the "Regional Park" listserve.

Here is a presentation that we conducted during the regional park planning process.

Got some questions about how these parks were funded and where the money came from? Check out our Question and Answer site.

Barrow's Comments Undeserved

In the Tribune article mentioned earlier about Cunningham Road, I have some concerns over comments made by City P&Z Chairman Jeff Barrow. As noted in the 10/26/08 article, Mr. Barrow voiced support for removing Cunningham from the City's long range road plan and for leaving the park in a natural state. The park land was donated by the Garland Russell family and is commonly known as Bonnie View Park.

"This is a remarkable opportunity for the city," Barrow said. "We need to keep an eye on the parks and rec. That profession wants to meet multiple uses and turn everything into something they can take to a conference. I don’t want to disparage them for that ambition, … but there is a chance for a natural park, a natural animal center, where people are just visitors. I think it would be appropriate to remove a" planned "road running through it." (Tribune, 10/26/08)

What Mr. Barrow probably didn't know was that our department had conducted multiple planning meetings, including a detailed citizen survey to develop four park master plan options for the development of the Bonnie View Park. All development options call for the park to remain fairly natural keeping with the intent and desires of the Russell family, citizen survey results and public meeting comments. Park master plans may be seen at the Russell/Bonnie View Park website.

For Mr. Barrow to imply that our department just wants to turn everything into a "conference" showcase is completely out of line. We take pride in our efforts to solicit public input in all of our park master plans. When tax dollars are used for park purposes, we feel that it is important to meet the needs of the citizens. Leaving the park untamed with no development would mean that the park becomes just a backyard extension for those that live adjacent or near the park. We also recognize the importance of meeting the needs of special interest groups such as the various athletic leagues and environmental organizations. There has to be a balance between the "flatten it for fields" groups and the "tree hugger" groups that want it left untamed.

All four park master plan options call for a natural park, yet they provide enough developed areas to allow all Columbians a chance to visit the park. We're glad that Mr. Barrow is keeping an eye out for us but just wish he would pay closer attention to what we actually do. Maybe then he won't feel the need to disparage us in the Tribune.

Cunningham Road and Bonnie View Park

Sunday's Tribune contains an article about the future plans for the extension of Cunningham Road through the former Garland Russell tract, currently known as Bonnie View Park. The article, titled, P&Z Suggests Cutting Planned Road in Parkland, documents the Planning and Zonings recommendation to remove Cunningham from the City's long range road plan. The Missourian, in an article on October 23, 2008, documented the P&Z Commission actions as well.

The City's long range road plan is manged by CATSO. The Columbia Area Transportation Study Organization (CATSO) was created in 1974 and designated as a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) by the Governor of Missouri. As the designated MPO, the Columbia Area Transportation Study Organization is responsible for ensuring a coordinated transportation planning process with the Metropolitan area.

It was during the Russell property park master plan process that the future of Cunningham Rd became an issue. The P&R Department, through a series of public meetings and surveys, presented four options for the development of the Russell tract.

Option A: Shows access to the park on the north from Rollins Road and on the east from a new access road from Fairview Road.

Option B: Identical to Option A on the north, but shows Weaver Drive, a local street stub off Bray Avenue, extended into the park from the south.

Option C: Shows Cunningham Road extended from Bray Avenue on the south through the park connecting to Rollins Road on the north.

Option D: Identical to Option C, but adds a connecting road from Cunningham Road west to Fairview Road.

The Parks and Recreation Commission voted to recommend Option A to the City Council. However, the issue will likely be renewed and the public will be given further opportunities for comments. The removal of Cunningham Road is the first step in reaching a Council consensus for the development of the Russell tract.

Don't Plant that Pear Tree!

Today's Missourian has an excellent article regarding our educational efforts to rid our city of the Callery Pear Trees. Missourian reporter Becky Anderson wrote about our "Stop the Spread!" program designed to prevent the further planting of the Callery Pear trees including varieties such as Bradford, Chanticleer, Aristocrat, and Capital.

Anderson writes "Callery pears are generally selected for their teardrop shape, vibrant white blossoms, manageable size and because they are relatively easy to transplant. This tree, however, is seen by some as more of a headache than a gem. Bad branch angles and heavy branches make the species susceptible to splitting, which is dangerous around roads and power lines. Ornamental pear trees are often the first to come down in heavy storms and snow."

However, the real problem is that these are non-native, invasive trees that will ultimately take over open fields. A great example of this is on Scott Boulevard between Smith Drive (The Hamlet Subdivision) and Christian Fellowship Road. This once open field is now filled with Callery Pears.

This Chinese import is so bad, it was recognized as the "Weed of the Week" by the U.S. Forest Service. Invasion.org even states "Do not plant Bradford pear."

In the Plainfield Trees blog, Gregory Palermo documents many pear trees and the problems associated with them. He further states that even trimming the branches is not much of a help.

"That sort of pruning is not at all easy to do in an effective and attractive way because all of the major limbs typically spring from the trunk at roughly the same height above ground. Worse, as the tree gets larger, those closely spaced branch points intersect each other. The corrective pruning, to the extent that it can be done, tends to eliminate the symmetry of the crown that is one of the tree's attractions."

Alternatives to plant include chokecherry, dogwood and redbud. As you look at planting new trees this fall, please consider one of these alternate choices.

When do Park Facilities Close for the Winter?

October marks the time when many parks and outdoor facilities find their use slowly decreasing with each drop of the thermometer. Outdoor swimming pools have already closed and park staff has already began winterizing these facilities.

What do we mean by winterizing? First, many of our park restrooms, pool bathhouses, and concession stands do not have heat. If it gets below freezing, we run the risk of water lines and valves breaking causing several thousand dollars worth of damage. Therefore, before the temperatures start to freeze, we begin to close these facilities by draining the water from all vulnerable lines.

When do facilities close? Generally speaking, our goal is to have all non-heated facilities closed by October 15. This date is a fairly standard closing date for many municipalities in Missouri. As the date approaches, we begin watching the long range weather forecasts and if it appears that we can extend the closing date, we will. For example, this year, Oct 15 is on a Wednesday. We may try to stretch the closing date to Monday, Oct 20 so that we can get one more weekend use out of the facilities. It all depends on the forecast. All facilities are re-opened by April 15.

There are times when Missouri temps will be unseasonably warm even in December and January so why don't we just unlock the restrooms during those warm days? It's not as simple as just turning the water back on and unlocking the door. In addition to draining the lines, we also disassemble all of the stainless steel valves and add RV antifreeze to the lines. This takes about 8 hours of labor per each restroom and a bit longer to reassemble and safely remove the antifreeze.

When do specific facilities close? It varies depending on the facility and use. For example, the concession/restroom facilities located at the Rainbow Softball Center, soccer and the Antimi complexes remain open until their respective seasons end, usually around the first of November. Park staff uses electric heaters to prolong the use of these facilities.

Most restrooms and drinking fountains close October 15. This includes the new restrooms at Kiwanis Park and Fairview Park.

The Stephens Lake Park Sprayground is closed from October 1 to April 30. We have found that the cooler temperatures drastically reduce the use of these facilities. The one exception may be the Flat Branch Park Sprayground. It is kept open until the conclusion of the Roots-N-Blues BBQ Festival. For 2008, this sprayground is closed Monday, October 6.

Nifong Park restroom closes on November 1.

The department is constructing three new restrooms, 2 in Cosmo Park and 1 in Cosmo-Bethel Park that are similar to the restrooms at Stephens Lake Park. These new restrooms will be heated. The Burford/Dexheimer restroom will close on November 1. The Nickell/Lamb restroom will remain open year round. For the 2008-09 winter season, the Cosmo-Bethel restroom will remain open. The use of this restroom will be evaluated and it may be one that is closed on Nov 1, 2009.

In addition to the Cosmo Nickell/Lamb restroom, the following restrooms will remain open all winter:

Stephens Lake Park: Collins and Gordon restroom

MKT Trailhead Restrooms: Forum Blvd and Scott Blvd

Dead Fish at Twin Lakes, No Cause for Concern

We received an email from a dog owner that frequently uses Twin Lakes and in a recent visit, found several dead bait fish along the banks of the large lake. The owner was concerned that we may be using chemicals to treat the water or weeds along the shoreline.

Our department prides itself on being an eco-friendly, green operation. We try to maintain water quality through natural means whenever possible. Stephens Lake Park lake is a great example. We used to rely on chemicals such as Cutrine-Plus, an algicide to kill the blue/green algae (an algae that could be fatal to animals such as dogs) and AquaShade, a dye used to prevent growth of algae. However through management plans that included planting of aquatic shoreline plants; reducing the nutrients provided by geese feces; and the continued use of our aerators and fountains, we have not had to use any chemicals this year. We anticipate that the Stephens water quality will further improve once the construction of our water fall is completed.

The same goes for Twin Lakes. Our volunteer Columbia Aquatic Restoration Program (CARP) has planted over $10,000 worth of plants that we received from a grant. This and the continued use of the aerators, have enabled us to not use any chemicals.

I might also add that the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency, both recognize the value of using Curtine-Plus to manage algae. MDC has a publication on algae control, Algae Control in Lakes and Ponds, that we use as a basis for our own program. They recognize that algae is a greater threat and must be controlled. Cutrine-Plus is a very safe product for both humans, pets and wildlife. It's one of the few products where you may swim immediately after application without any risk. Cutrine is widely used in drinking, irrigation, fishing and stock lakes as it has no restrictions. AquaShade, approved by the EPA, is a harmless, simple "blue" color dye used to prevent the growth of algae. We have only used AquaShade at Stephens Lake Park.

I mention this as should we ever encounter a significant blue/green algae bloom, we may need to use Cutrine or AquaShade to handle the problem. Hopefully, we won't ever have that situation arise.

We do not use chemicals for weed/shoreline management either, so any source of chemicals would have to come from the resident's yards located above the lake. With the amount of turf between the lake and the homes, I doubt many if any fertilizer or chemicals reach our lake.

The dead fish you see are Gizzard Shad. Gizzard Shad are known to have a weak system and can't tolerate low oxygen levels or changes in water temperatures. The week of Sept 22-26, 2008 was unseasonably warm and I'm sure that was part of the problem. The nervous systems of these fish are so sensitive, that even when caught by a net for bait, they will quickly die in the bait bucket. In fact, MO Dept of Conservation has actually posted a sign at the lake to inform park users that the dead fish is Gizzard Shad and not a sign of problems. This sign states:

"This lake contains a species of fish call Gizzard Shad. Gizzard Shad, by nature, are very fragile fish and prone to early spring die-offs. They stress easily and die from natural environmental factors that normally have little effect on other fish species. Some of the factors which help promote these die-offs include water temperature extremes and fluctuations, overpopulation and disease. Don't be alarmed if you see dead shad scattered around the shoreline during late spring or summer. It's a natural occurrence for lakes containing Gizzard Shad to experience these periodic die-offs. These fish will eventually be recycled through the aquatic ecosystem by natural processes."