Parks Board Takes Field Trip to New Park Acreage

Lake Saint Louis owns a hidden gem—38 acres of undeveloped land near the southwestern tip of the big lake that will someday be the city's newest park.

The land was donated to the city in 2003 with the stipulation that the future park be designated as a "passive park." As a passive park, the park will not offer ball fields and concession stands, playgrounds or pools.

Instead, it would offer trails through the rolling, forested environment—a place for people to enjoy and appreciate nature. The only development that may be allowed would be picnic pavilions, restrooms and benches.

Why has the land been waiting since 2003 to become a park? The parcel, which lies behind Crimson Oaks subdivision just east of Duello Road, has no access.

The Lake Saint Louis Parks and Recreation Board took a field trip Tuesday night to view the property and get more familiar with the lay of the land—and its issue of access.

Board members Harold Gaines, Tom Mispagel, and Tom Pontius joined Parks and Recreation Director Tim Vannatta, Administrative Assistant Carole Ross and Alderman John Pellerito on the field trip. The visit had been planned for the previous board meeting, but a tornado watch forced the board to change its plans.

Vannatta pointed out several places that might eventually become points of access, but nothing is currently in the works to aquire that land. He pointed out that there may be a possibility of connecting up the new park's trails to Quail Ridge Park trails.

Board members were able to walk down a utility access road to get a better view of the side of the property that abuts Crimson Oaks subdivision. As they watched, a small herd of deer swam across one of the small lakes and climbed one by one up the bank, emphasizing the property's value as a nature preserve.