Rock Island Trail State Park: Missouri Legislature's final budget eliminates Gov Parson's $69 million funding proposal - but $1 million private funding restored

Today the Missouri General Assembly gave final approval to HB 3020, which included Governor Parson's proposal to spend $69 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to develop the most difficult and expensive part of the new Rock Island Trail State Park. 

The Rock Island Trail is Missouri's newest State Park. Now the challenge is to develop the new State Park - and connect it with other communities around the state, and other major trails and trail systems, like the Katy Trail.

The governor's proposal survived two votes on the House floor, but was cut by the Senate's version of the bill, which was also adopted by the House today.

"This is a lost opportunity and that is disappointing," said Brent Hugh, Executive Director of the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation.

"But communities along the old railroad and supporters from across Missouri line have been working for decades to preserve the corridor and develop it as a new State Park and cross-state trail, and have made tremendous progress.  We have a lot of optimism about the future of the trail and the many opportunities to develop it and benefit trail communities and Missouri as a whole."

"We look forward to working with those who voted against the funding in the General Assembly, and with concerned landowners and organizations, to find solutions for Missouri's newest State Park that will benefit everyone."

General Assembly approves $1 million in privately raised funding from the Rock Island Trail State Park Endowment Fund

Today the Missouri General Assembly also gave final approval to HB 3006, which includes appropriation of $1 million in private funds raised to cover regular staffing, maintenance, security, and fencing for the Rock Island Trail State Park.

This funding was approved by the House in a routine manner, but it was completely cut in the Senate Committee discussion - but then later restored in a later Committee meeting, after discussion.

Withholding this funding would have been a truly extraordinary move - given that the money consists entirely of private funds raised to support the new State Park.

Those private raised funds are transferred to the Rock Island Trail State Park Endowment Fund.  The Endowment Fund was created by a vote of the General Assembly in 2019, specifically to support maintenance and development of the new State Park.

"We very much appreciate the strong support in both the House and the Senate for this basic funding to support the new State Park," said Hugh.

"It is amazing to see the private support for the Rock Island Trail develop - and that private fundraising has accelerated significantly since State Parks accepted ownership of the corridor and officially adopted the property into the State Parks System.  Our thanks goes to the donors and to legislators who supported this crucial funding."

Private fundraising for the Rock Island Trail State Park has dramatically accelerated since Missouri State Parks official received the donation of the property in December 2021.

To make a donation in support of the Rock Island Trail State Park, visit the Missouri State Park Foundation web page.

Thank you for your support of the Rock Island Trail project

Huge thanks goes to each and every individual who reached out to elected officials this year and who attended Capitol Day, the annual Ride with Legislators, or otherwise personally visited with our elected officials.

The effort to support Governor Parson's $69 million Rock Island Trail funding proposal did not succeed this time.  But the effort to protect the $1 million in private funding (plus about $150K more on top) DID succeed.  That funding was in extreme jeopardy this year, and with the voices of hundreds and thousands of supporters speaking it, it very definitely would not have survived.

And, although the effort to support the $69 million proposal did not succeed, I can guarantee you that Governor Parson, key legislators, State Parks and DNR officials, and others have seen the support the new State Park received this year, and that will play well as the work to fund and build the new statewide trail continues.

Dozens of local bicycle, pedestrian, trails, parks, and other groups across Missouri have supported this effort.  I have seen MANY advocacy alerts and social media messages from these groups - and every one is appreciated. An extraordinary aspect of the Rock Island Trail project is the amount of support it receives from all corners of the state - and from out of state as well.

In addition, several statewide and national organizations have played extraordinary roles in creating and developing the new Rock Island Trail State Park.  

Please support these organizations if you can!

• Missouri Rock Island Trail, Inc (MoRIT) - the coalition of citizens, businesspeople, elected officials, and other supporters from communities along the 144-mile route.
   
• Missouri Parks Association - the group responsible for the parks and soils sales tax that provides primary funding for all of Missouri's State Parks, but also works hard year after year to support what is best for Missouri State Parks in the General Assembly.  They have worked hard to make the Rock Island Trail State Park a reality.
   
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy - the nationwide experts on rail-trails, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has been amazingly supportive of the Rock Island Trail at every step of the way.  
   
• The Missouri State Park Foundation has raised millions of dollars in support of Rock Island Trail State Park so far - and are working hard to raise more.  This fundraising has made the new State Park possible.

Finally, we very much appreciate the support Governor Parson and his staff, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources leadership and staff, and Missouri State Parks leadership and staff have given to the Rock Island Trail project.

They are making our new State Park a reality. As one door closes, another will open - as we work for the day we can ride or hike the entire 144 miles of the Rock Island Corridor, or use the new trail as part of a seamless cross-state trail journey from state line to state line, from Liberty Memorial the Gateway Arch.

One of the top goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri is building a world-class bicycle and pedestrian transportation system in Missouri.  The addition of the Rock Island Trail to Missouri's statewide trail system is the biggest single advance we have seen in Missouri in over 20 years.

Your membership and generous financial contributions help turn our Vision into reality--building the statewide public support for bicycling, walking, and trails that make major advances like the Rock Island Trail possible.