Newsletter of the Missouri Parks Association Post Office Box 30036, Columbia, MO 65205 Volume 27, No. 2 July 2009 Susan Flader, Editor Eiken Retires as Longest-Serving Park Director By B. H. Rucker In Portland, North Dakota, greatest interest in life was sports. population 600, Doug Eiken grew Baseball was his passion, although up around the Farmers Union ironically, it was basketball that Creamery, remembering his first opened doors for him, begin- mother candling the eggs and his ning with a four-year athletic father making the butter. Even scholarship to nearby Mayville young boys like Doug worked on State Teachers College. After neighboring farms, hauling hay, graduation in 1964 with his B.S. in feeding livestock, and performing math and physical education, Doug a never-ending list of chores. The was drafted by the Eugene, Ore- remembrance of his parents, gon, Emeralds, a minor league neighbors, friends – working peo- farm team for the Philadelphia ple and their everyday lives – Phillies. Although his zeal for never has been far from his mind. baseball remained unabated, he was released after four seasons, In rural North Dakota, sports and he returned to complete an provided relief from the effort and M.S. in Phys. Ed. at the then tedium of the workaday world and, Doug Eiken at Illiniwek Village Moorhead State College in Minne- as a boy and a young man, Doug’s State Historic Site (See "Eiken" on Page 5) Park Funding Still at Issue This year’s session of the Mis- tion projects. The Third State Fund MPA leaders, introduced an amend- souri General Assembly, which just had included $60 million for state ment to raise the bond issue to $800 adjourned on May 15, offered two park projects, and MPA leaders had million total, including up to $250 exciting possibilities for major been waiting fifteen years for a suc- million for state projects other than catch-up funding for the nearly cessor that could include more fund- higher education, citing especially $200 million backlog of state park ing for parks. Park supporter Rep. needs in state parks and mental capital improvement needs, but nei- Mike Sutherland was ready with an health. The amended bill reached ther met with success – a major dis- amendment to include $75 million the senate floor, where it would appointment for park supporters. for state park projects in HJR 32 likely have passed if not for a fili- when it reached the house floor, but buster by a senator opposed to the The bonds issued in the 1980s to regrettably he was not recognized state incurring further debt. establish the Third State Building and the speaker rolled the bill with- Fund are nearly paid off, and Rep. out any discussion whatever. A second opportunity for state Chris Kelly of Columbia sought to park capital funding was to try to take advantage of that recurring A last chance for the bond issue include park system projects in budget item (revenue stream) to came when the Senate Appropria- some of the general assembly pro- create a new State Building Fund tions Committee heard HJR 32, and posals for use of federal stimulus with another bond issue. His HJR Senator Kurt Schaeffer of Columbia money. There were billions of dol- 32 would have supplied $700 mil- (who had served for a time as gen- lars allocated for capital improve- lion in capital improvements mon- eral counsel for DNR), having been ments and related infrastructure for ies, all dedicated to higher educa- approached prior to the hearing by (See "Funding" on Page 3) Page 2 The Missouri Parks Association MPA President’s Message by Terry Whaley Eiken Leaves Great Park System and Inspired Staff Greetings, MPA members. I while he conducts a national hope this issue of Heritage finds search for a new leader for the you out and about happily en- park system. MPA congratu- joying your great state park sys- lates Dan and looks forward to tem. Many changes and chal- working with him. lenges are in store for the sys- I invite you to join us in assur- tem's future, which you can read ing that we continuing to live about in this issue. I wish to in a state with one of the top take just a moment to comment state park systems in the na- on what has been one of the MPA President Terry Whaley presenting a Lewis & tion. Support MPA efforts to greatest gifts to our system, one Clark print to Doug Eiken. seek enhanced capital im- that will be greatly missed. provements through federal stimulus On June 1 our state park director We will miss Doug and we wish funds or a bond issue and the return Doug Eiken started his well- him the best, but it is a comfort to of state park funding from state gen- deserved retirement. I attended his know that, working with the current eral revenue, encourage others to retirement reception with great ex- staff, together we can achieve the join MPA, and, most important, citement but with a sense of loss vision for our state park system that share your favorite park with others that often comes with change. Doug was inspired by Doug’s fifteen years so they too can understand the value has been a great park director for of service. Deputy director Dan and importance of maintaining a Missouri, and we hate to see him Paige has been appointed acting great park system for future genera- leave. His accomplishments are director by DNR's Mark Templeton tions. well represented in additional parks, improved facilities, and new pro- grams to enhance the park experi- Save October 23-25, 2009 ence for all Missouri residents. for MPA’s Annual Meeting in St. Louis County However, as I talked with park division employees whether in the Plan now to join us for the 2009 annual meeting of the Missouri Parks As- Jefferson City offices, in the field, sociation to be held in St. Louis County near the Meramec River, October or even a volunteer campground 23-25, 2009. The host hotel will be the Wildwood Town Center Hotel, with host, there was an overwhelming visits to several nearby state parks including Babler, Castlewood and Route and consistent theme that Doug was 66. A visit to one of the region's newest state park sites nearby in Jefferson “the best boss” they ever had. Very County is also being planned. The tentative calendar of activities includes: often we get wrapped up in meas- ures of park acreage, buildings and Friday, October 23 12:00-4:00pm Pre-meeting float trip or hike, Castlewood State events, often forgetting that our Park greatest resource is the dedicated 6:00-9:00 pm Reception & dinner (location TBD) employees that care for our parks on a daily basis. A park system does Saturday, October 24 not acquire and hold dedicated em- 9:00 am-Noon State park issues & programs ployees without leadership at the Noon-5:00pm Visits to regional state park sites top. This leadership must build on 6:00-9:00pm Annual MPA dinner and awards existing skills, cultivate individual interest and initiative, and encour- Sunday, October 25 age people to give their very best. 9:00am-Noon MPA membership & business meeting (Location TBD) While Doug may have retired, he has given Missouri a gift that will Host Hotel: Wildwood Town Center Hotel—636-733-9100. Camping continue to benefit our parks for available: Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, 636-458-3813 many years, and that is an educated, inspired and committed professional A more detailed description will be included in the next issue of Heritage , staff who will continue the vision but you can reserve your room now. For more information contact meeting that Doug has instilled in them. chair Ron Coleman at 314-451-6090 or [email protected], or MPA treasurer Eleanor Hoefle at [email protected] or 314-869-6534. Page 3 The Missouri Parks Association ("Funding" from Page 1) nearly every state agency and a For decades park division staff, much of the most pressing deferred number of local entities, but again MPA leaders and other park sup- maintenance, such as water and nothing for parks, despite MPA tes- porters have been painfully aware of wastewater systems, is not sexy. In timony in a number of hearings, the increasing inadequacy of the rural Missouri, where the most hand-delivering copies of the case park sales tax for anything other highly visited parks are located, for state park funding to every legis- than general operations—however some are the equivalent of a small lative office and talking personally vital it is for that purpose—and have city having to run its own water and with many members and their sought a gradual return of general sewer departments. Yet, though staffs—and despite all your phone revenue (GR) funds, which were there were billions of dollars in the calls, letters, and emails to your own stripped from parks during a state federal stimulus bill designated for representatives and senators. We budget crisis after the first success- such systems, state parks were eligi- still have not managed to build a ful renewal of the sales tax in 1988. ble for none of it, as interpreted by coalition of representatives and (Park director Doug Eiken had had DNR and the governor’s office. senators who will consistently advo- very modest success in getting a The Katy Trail is highly popular cate for the state park system. So small amount of GR for Civil War but, again, the most pressing needs park supporters will have to redou- sesquicentennial commemoration in are for infrastructure—culverts, ble their efforts.