It's an 'exciting time' for Missouri State Parks following donation of 144-mile Rock Island Corridor

It's an exciting week for trail goers, cyclists and horseback riders as the state took ownership of a 144-mile long corridor stretching from Windsor to Beaufort. The land housed the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad corridor and will soon be developed into a trail system for Missouri State Parks.

December 14th, 2021, Governor Parson, Dru Buntin of Missouri DNR, and Mark Birk of Ameren with the signed agreement transferring the 144 miles of Rock Island railroad corridor from Windsor to Beaufort, Missouri, to become Rock Island Trail State Park

Missouri Department of Natural Resources took ownership of the donated land from Missouri Central Railroad Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameren Missouri, Tuesday at no cost to the state.

"It's an exciting time on the state park system," said David Kelly, director of Missouri State Parks. . . .

 

The planning process has yet to start, and there's no set date for when the corridor will be fully developed. The rail company, Ameren Missouri, already took out the ties and trails across the 144 miles, so there's almost a clean slate to work with.

For now, Kelly said there's ample opportunity to create something "spectacular."

Missouri State Parks is planning a series of public meetings about the future of the Rock Island Trail (look for tab "Informational Meetings") later in January. At the meeting they will discuss future plans for the trail, possible names for the new State Park, listen to community ideas about trail development, and more.  Please plan to attend if you can:

Tuesday,Jan. 18, 2022
Time: 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Morgan County Library
600 N. Hunter Street
Versailles MO

Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022
Time: 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Scenic Regional Library-Owensville Branch
503 South Olive Street
Owensville MO

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022
Time: 5:30 - 7 p.m.
American Legion Post 317
402 Hwy 63
Freeburg MO

 

• Article about the Dec 14th acceptance ceremony for the Rock Island Trail with Governor Parson
  
   
• MoBikeFed's timeline and background about the cross-state Rock Island Trail project - 1980s to the present.