Community Suggests Money-Generating Uses for New Park

Community members have suggested the St. Charles Parks Department consider a range of money-generating uses for the 110-acre park in north St. Charles.

The property, which is located north of Boeing Co. and between Highway 94 North, Hawning Road and the River Road, was donated to the city in 2000.

In September, the Parks Department held the first community planning session for the park. A second one is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Nov. 9 at Memorial Hall in Blanchette Park. During this meeting, the engineering firm contracted to create the master plan will show two or three schematic design concepts and ask for feedback.

The 20 people who attended the first meeting learned about the constraints on the park development. One portion of the site borders property owned by The Boeing Co. and because the site was part of the Federal Emergency Management Association's flood buy out program.

Then, the participants divided into three groups and started discussing a vision for the park. Many people felt the park should be divided into multiple spaces to accomodate a variety of uses from trails to ponds to income-generating facilities.

Some of the suggestions for uses that would create income were to build tournament facilities for baseball and softball or a zipline that could be part of an outdoor adventure area.

A wedding pavillion or other buildings along with a driving range or golf facilities would generate revenue. The park could also provide tent camping, a bandstand for concerts and facilities for fairgrounds or a farmers market.

One group felt there are enough group sports activities in St. Charles Parks and thus would not be needed in this park. But another groups suggested that because St. Charles County creates only passive parks, more active uses were appropriate.

The groups also agreed that the park should provide ways for people to interact with the environment, from a community garden to a stocked pond for fishing.

Many agreed that security is a potential concern in this area. One participant noted the park may attract homeless people.

Most groups saw trails as a great option for the site. Trails could serve multiple purposes for bicyclists, mountain bikers and bmx racers. The park is close to the Katy Trail and signage could help make that connection clear.

Maralee Britton, director of Parks and Recreation, noted that the parks deparment is talking with Great Rivers Greenway District about possibly extending a leg of the Boschert Trail toward Discovery Elementary School which would tie into the new park.

Possible uses for the site include:

• Walking, nature, bicycle, exercise or mountain bike dirt trail.
• Baseball, softball, soccer, football, t-ball or open play ball fields. These could be practice or for tournaments.
• Tennis, volleyball, basketball, multi-use courts.
• Playgrounds
• Picnic tables
• Unscheduled, passive park space
• Water features like ponds or lake that could accomodate radio-controlled hobby boats, paddle boats, fishing, fountain.
• Festival space
• Corporate shelter, which would generate revenue
• Adventure course
• Frisbee golf, disc golf courses
• Cross country course
• Radio-controlled airplane space
• Concessionaires
• Community garden