Strawn Road Bow Hunting Area Open: 10/23 5:00 pm

As of 5:00 pm Friday, Oct 23, the water has receded and while muddy, the Strawn Road property is open for all registered archery hunters. It is recommended that only 4-wheel drive vehicles attempt to park in the designated turf area parking lot.

Trail Condition Updates: Friday, 10/23/09

We've been getting some calls asking if any trails are flooded and as of 11:30 am on Friday, Oct 23, we are happy to report that all trails are still above flood waters. Park crews are nearly finished cleaning out the sand and silt that was deposited in the downtown and MKT Stadium tunnels and will begin inspecting all trails this afternoon.

Strawn Road Archery Hunt--Temporarily Closed Oct 23

All archery hunters should be aware that the Strawn Road site is temporarily closed due to flooding. As of Friday, Oct 23 the site is under approximately 3-ft of water. It is likely that the water will continue to rise and peak sometime today. Even when the water recedes, the turf parking area will likely be too soft for vehicles until early next week.

Once the water has receded, archery hunters may use the site at their own risk.

Trail Condition Updates: Monday, 10/19/09

Despite having a few staff members home sick, we were able to get back on the trail today and nearly complete the MKT. Here's an update:

MKT: New holes at bridge #1 & 8 repaired. Final trail surface mix has been spread, rolled and compacted. Trail is essentially repaired although additional rock is needed along shoulder in one particular area. However, this shouldn't impact any trail users.

Bear Creek Trail: Began adding 1" roll stone along washouts from Creasey Springs Trailhead entrance heading west toward Cosmos Park. Anticipate a few more days and this trail will be repaired and staff will be able to get to the Hinkson Creek Trail.

Trail Update, Sunday Oct 18

Unfortunately, Forestry staff (they are also responsible for trail maintenance) was called to remove some hazard trees on Friday and were unable to conduct trail maintenance activities.

It may be Tuesday before trail maintenance work resumes.

Trail Condition Updates: Thursday, 10/15/09 Afternoon

Additional rain has caused a pause in most trail repair work. Heavy trucks on already soft trail can lead to rutting and uneven trail construction.

MKT Trail: Unstable soil conditions caused holes on either side of bridge 13 trail approaches. These holes have been repaired today. Depending on the weather, the plan for Friday is to roll and compact MKT from Forum to Sewer plant # 2 and then apply 3/8 surface rock next week.

Bear Creek Trail: Staff will start rebuilding at Cosmo to Creasy Springs on Friday as well.

Hinkson Creek Trail: As of this date, the trail is usable, but it does need 3/8 surface and a couple of low spots fixed. Staff will get to this after MKT and Bear Creek.

Trail Condition Updates: Tuesday, 10/13/09 Afternoon

Bear Creek Trail: All tunnels clean and clear of sand and silt. Most of the trail has been preliminarily gone over with a tractor and box blade and is passable, but rough.

MKT: All of 1-inch rollstone down, most of it packed with roller. Need to finish smoothing out one minor area and finish with surface rock.

Weather pending, staff will be back out on the trails on Wednesday.

Trail Condition Updates: Tuesday, 10/13/09 Morning

Staff will be working on the MKT Trail and Bear Creek Trail today with a goal of adding 1-inch rollstone on all washed out sections of the trail. After adding the 1-inch stone, staff will roll and compact this layer. If we are able to get this accomplished, staff will add the surface rock on Wednesday and again roll and compact this last layer.

All trails are usable, but cyclists with street tires should be extremely cautious when riding as there are still sections that are rough.

Park Facility/Restroom Closings

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 Thursday. We may try to stretch the closing date to Monday, Oct 19 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.

When it warms up, why don't you unlock them? 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 and the Flat Branch Park Sprayground is closed from October 1 to April 30. We have found that the cooler temperatures drastically reduce the use of these facilities.

Nifong Park restroom closes on November 1.

Through the voter approved 2005 Park Sales Tax, the department was able to construct three new replacement 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 and the Cosmo-Bethel restrooms will close on November 1. The Nickell/Lamb restroom will remain open year round.

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

Port-a-pots will be placed in the following areas from Oct 15 to April 15:

MKT Stadium Trailhead

Grindstone Nature Area

Bear Creek Trail-Garth Trailhead

Bear Creek Trail-Creasy Springs Trailhead

CCRA Skatepark

So, as you plan your events, please be aware of these facility closing dates.

Trail Condition Updates: Monday evening, 10/12/09

Bear Creek Trail - Silt & sand has been removed from tunnel under Creasey Springs Road. Grading started on most sections of trail, but it is still very rough. Cyclists should be extremely cautious.

MKT Trail - All tunnels cleaned of debris. The 4' foot sinkhole located in the middle of the trail between bridges 12 & 13 has been filled and barricades removed. Trail washouts between Forum and bridge 10 filled with 3-inch base rock and graded. Surface rock to be installed Tuesday. This section of MKT Trail is still rough, but much improved. Cyclists should be extremely cautious.

Lights in the MKT Providence Road Tunnel (at Flat Branch Park): Just a note that staff has installed 6 lights inside the tunnel to improve visibility during the dusk/dawn hours as well as a way to ease the transition of leaving bright daylight and entering into a dark tunnel. During flood events, the lights have a disconnect that shuts off the power. So, if you find that the lights are off, make sure you proceed with extreme caution, especially during the night hours when visibility is poor.

Trail Condition Updates: Monday, 10/12/09

This is not so much an update on the trail conditions as much as letting everyone know where staff is heading this morning. The department's Forestry program is responsible for all trail maintenance and their program area consists of a Forester, Groundskeeper II, Groundskeeper I and an Equipment Operator II. The program also has 3 seasonal employees at this time of year.

1. Downtown tunnels. Two staff members are heading downtown to clean out all of the tunnels that still had water rushing through it on Friday. Depending on the severity of the deposited debris, these should be clear by the end of the day.

2. MKT Trail. A larger crew is heading to the MKT Trail to concentrate on the sink holes and begin work on the trail, specifically the sections between Forum and Scott Blvd. This will likely take a few days.

3. Bear Creek Trail-Creasy Springs. Since it's too wet to mow, some of our mowing crew will be assisting with the removal of the sand and silt that was deposited on the Bear Creek Trail. Areas of concentration will be between Creasy Springs Road and Cosmo Park.

Once the MKT Trail is back in operational shape, staff will touch-up on the Hinkson Creek Trail.

If anyone has any trail problems to report or simply want to bring something to our attention, please do not hesitate to send me an email at mbg@GoColumbiaMo.com.

This blog will be updated again at the end of the day.

Deer Hunting: Flood at Strawn Road Sat update

As of 8:30 am Saturday morning, 10/10/09, the flood waters has receded from the temporary parking lot at the Strawn Road property. This is a popular area for deer hunters and the area remains open for hunting. While the parking is now visible and free of limbs and debris, the ground is saturated and all deer hunters should use caution when attempting to park in this area.

Trail Condition Updates: Saturday, 10/10/09

Water has receded from all trails and conditions remain just about the same as Friday afternoon with one exception: a large "sink hole" has appeared in the middle of the MKT Trail. This hole, about 3-4 feet in diameter is located between bridge 12 and 13 and is blocked off with a barricade.

All users should be cautious when using the trail, especially between Twin Lakes and Scott Blvd as additional holes may develop without warning.

Trail Condition Updates: Friday, 10/9/09

Hinkson Creek Trail (P&R Section) water receded- minor silting and gravel wash out, trail in fairly good condition.

Bear Creek Trail: Water receded and trail is rough, but passible for walkers from Cosmo park sled hill to Creasey Spring parking lot. Accumulation of sand/silt in trail tunnel under Creasey Springs road. Parking lot is partly covered with water and mud. The trail from the boardwal to wetland bridge is rough, but passible for walkers. Bikers should be cautious and slow down.

MKT Trail Tunnels--Caution!: Downtown tunnels mostly clear, Providence Road tunnel still has some water moving through it. Stadium Blvd tunnel still has fair amount of water running through it and quite a bit of debris. Proceed with caution at all tunnels. Watch for warning cones.

MKT Trail--Caution!: Water receded and trail is very rough with large washouts from about the 2 mile marker (bridge #10) to 2.6 mile near Forum Blvd crossing. Parking lot at Twin Lakes now open. Water on Scott blvd lot has receded and trail is accessible with minor silting and wash outs. Trail west toward county side is water covered.