13-11 Heritage Issue
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Newsletter of the Missouri Parks Association Post Office Box 30036, Columbia, MO 65205 Volume 31, No. 3 November 2013 Susan Flader, Editor Riverways Plan Open for Comments The long-awaited General Manage- ment Plan for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways was finally re- leased November 8 for a 60-day public comment period that ends January 8, 2014. This is the oppor- tunity for which MPA and other conservation and civic organiza- tions have long been waiting, and a high level of citizen participation will be imperative if we are to se- cure a well-managed Riverways for the future. Fortunately, the 512-page plan con- tains a very reasonable range of al- ternatives and reveals that the Na- tional Park Service (NPS) is com- mitted to dealing with the problems that have festered along the River- ways for years, something that was October morning on the Current River. previously in doubt. The Current and Jacks Fork rivers, and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. Much of that never happened be- 134 miles of which form the core of From the start it was agreed that cause the park, which had always the long, narrow Riverways park, three crown jewels of the state park been troubled and often neglected were America's first federally pro- system—Round Spring, Alley by higher authorities, fell on espe- tected rivers. The Ozark National Spring, and Big Spring state cially difficult times in the 1990s Scenic Riverways was Congression- parks—would be transferred to the and beyond. The new plan has been ally authorized in 1964, and served National Park Service to become in the offing at least since the turn as a prototype for the National Wild focal points of the new national of the century, but it was not until park. The state retained only 2006 that NPS held "scoping" meet- Extra: Camp Zoe Acquired Montauk, at the headwaters ings, then went silent again. of the Current River, as a MPA has long been interested in the state park. As Heritage was going to press, the Mis- Riverways because of its state park souri Department of Natural Resources an- The Riverways was dedi- roots. When the park division in nounced that it has acquired the beautiful cated in 1973, after most of 2007 acquired (from the Conserva- 330-acre Camp Zoe property on Sinking the necessary land and ease- tion Department) a 780-acre tract Creek east of Highway 19, adjacent to both ments were acquired, but it fronting on the river north of Round Current River State Park and the Roger was not until 1984 that a Spring, MPA held its 2008 annual Pryor Pioneer Backcountry. Although management plan was ap- meeting at Montauk to visit the new plans are still preliminary, part of the prop- proved. It was a good plan, Current River State Park and focus erty will likely be used for a campground but it left most of the details attention on Riverways problems— and other visitor services and to provide a to be worked out in future proliferation of a maze of un- focal point for trails in the region. plans and then implemented. marked, deeply rutted roads and (See "Riverways" on Page 4) Page 2 The Missouri Parks Association President’s Message by Steve Nagel: A Park for All Seasons There are many tempting state parks from which outstanding hosts all weekend. A comprehensive, to choose our location for MPA’s annual gathering, engaging and informative part of our gathering is the but we traditionally convene where issues and pro- annual State of the Parks report by park director Bill jects are emerging. Once again this was the case Bryan. Newsletter space precludes all the detail and when we met at the newly rebuilt dining lodge at issues he covered, but an emphasis was on the fund- Camp Pin Oak in Lake of the Ozarks State Park Octo- ing situation and marketing strategies to attract youth ber 11-13. and families outdoors to enjoy all that our state parks have to offer. That was followed by a panel to discuss As luck (and planning) would have it, our visit the “wild ride” during the past session of the general coincided with the official dedication of the lodge by assembly and prospects for next year. Former House Governor Nixon at noon on Friday. The governor member and MPA board member Mike Sutherland, was very much at ease talking about Missouri’s state board member Steve Mahfood, and legislative con- parks and made it clear that the completion of the sultant Ginger Steinmetz provided valuable insights lodge was a priority. Attending the ceremony was a on a chaotic but generally successful session. Steve large crowd of park en- thusiasts, media, fami- lies with fond memories of Camp Pin Oak, part- ners and young people who worked on the building, DNR officials, park staff, MPA mem- bers and other guests. Following refresh- ments in the magnifi- cent new building, park staff led the MPA group on an insiders tour of the park with a focus on group camps, camp ground infrastructure, sewer line construction, a recon of the yurts and outpost cabins, and a visit to the airport—the only one in the park system. This is the larg- est park in the system Builders of Pin Oak Lodge with Governor Nixon, Bill Bryan and Sara Pauley. with over 17,600 acres and 180 buildings, so we saw only the north part, re- turning in time for a wonderful dinner courtesy of had just returned from visiting our Missouri delega- Dave Lako and park staff volunteers to inaugurate the tion in Washington D.C. and added personal anec- new dining hall. I was fortunate to have two over- dotes of the government during shut-down. nights in one of the outpost cabins; if you heard a Thanks again to state park staff, our group visited banjo playing around midnight, I’ll confess the log Grand Glaize Beach en route to Ha Ha Tonka, five cabin experience was made for Ozark mountain miles south of Camdenton. From the stone ruins of music. Robert McClure Synder’s “castle” perched high on a MPA members were welcomed Saturday morning bluff, we had a stunning view of the Niangua arm of by park superintendent Bill Arnold who began his the Lake. We then walked along the beautiful cove to career in state parks in 1984. Bill and his staff were the spring, where water rises from 70 feet below. (See "President" on Page 4) Page 3 The Missouri Parks Association By Deb Schnack (MPA Vice President) with Jane Lale: Park Pioneer Jane Lale After 35 years of service to the sitions in the sphere of park opera- toric CCC-era lodge, beloved by state park system Jane Lale retired tions, eventually serving as program generations of Girl Scouts, had been October 1. Jane and I worked to- director. In 2004 she became direc- struck by lightning and burned to gether on many projects as we pro- tor of the Planning and Develop- the ground on September 3, 2010. gressed through the ranks and pio- ment program. As it happened, Jane herself had neered the way for other women in camped at Pin Oak as a Girl Scout, During nearly a decade in that the field of parks management, and I along with Georganne Wheeler, position, she oversaw all planning am proud to have had her now the wife of Governor as a co-worker and a Jay Nixon. Gov. Nixon friend. Her expertise and personally visited the site, years of institutional with embers still smoking, knowledge will be hard to and vowed it would be re- replace. built. With state park fund- ing at a low ebb, this Jane began her career would prove to be a con- with Missouri state parks siderable challenge. in 1977, working as a sea- sonal and then full-time Jane immediately engaged employee in the admini- planning and development stration of several latter- staff as well as the State day federal youth employ- Historic Preservation Of- ment programs such as the fice (because the entire Youth Conservation Camp Pin Oak is a Na- Corps (YCC) and the tional Register Historic Young Adult Conserva- Jane Lale (center) and other leaders of Lake of the District) in considering all tion Corps (YACC) at Ozarks State Park stand before one of the massive fire- the options for the new places in the new Pin Oak Lodge; l-r, State Park Director Babler and Lake Ozark. building. A decision was Bill Bryan, Superintendent Bill Arnold, Jane Lale, Deputy At Camp Hawthorn in Director Denny Bopp, MPA directors Deb Schnack and reached quickly to rebuild Lake of the Ozarks State Nonnie McClammer. an adaptive replication of Park Jane learned quickly the old lodge (for which the how to organize a new program to and construction for the park sys- original plans still existed in the feed, house (they built their own tem. There were projects both ma- state park archives), on-site, but winterized facilities), and educate jor and minor, notably including the with a larger kitchen wing and patio, young people while also procuring re-creation of Johnsons Shut-ins and adding modern heating and air equipment and supplies for their State Park after the devastating conditioning, ADA accessibility, conservation projects. This experi- breach of the Taum Sauk reservoir and other improvements. ence with young workers and on- in 2005. During her tenure with Within the year and with the the-job training would serve her P&D came the acquisition of new governor’s support, state park offi- well many years later in her final facilities -- Battle of Island Mound, cials forged an innovative partner- and possibly most challenging and Current River, and Don Robinson.