My daughter and I love driving through Lone Elk Park to see the Bison and the Elk...it is a peaceful drive through there.

How absurd, as Walter Crawford says, it's absurd, and I agree that these parks cannot be sold!! When are people going to wake up???

Absolutely, please draft a petition! Am I mistaken but, is not the Wolf Sanctuary still there, on Tyson Park land? What does Washington University (who operate Tyson Research Center, and granted the space to (the late) Marlin Perkins and the Wild Canid Survival Center) have to say about this?

Absolutely against closing these parks. I live in wildwood primarily to have access to our parks. Greensfelder is uses by so many, year round. It would be a horrible blow to the character of our area if these parks dissapeared.

VERY interested in an online petition!!!! I would hate to see any one of those parks close.

I hope Dooley is just playing chicken with us--notice how he picked on parks that people really use. Still, its never good when government holds a gun to the taxpayer's head--he's basically saying, give me more tax money or the kids (who use the parks) get it.

Do not close Lone Elk Park. If St. Louis County does not have the vision or ability to maintain that unique resource, then just deed it over to other entities such as the Missouri state park system, or perhaps other non-governmental institutions.

I would hate to see lone elk go. It is a truly unique place you can enjoy year round! I'm confident with all the wasting of money going on these days, that there are other places to cut funds. And exactly who is tracking the spending and the budget for the issue to not be addressed until a $10 million deficit?

Please don't close Lone Elk Park!! It is such a special place. There is nothing else like it in St. Louis. My son, who is 6, has loved going there all his life. He never tires of it. There is nothing better than watching the animals play in the snow there in the Winter. Why would they choose to close such a unique place??

Lone Elk is absolutely vital to the county. These parks are rare gems and should be treated as such. I've been visiting the park often since I was a child, and my husband proposed on the small dock on the lake. One of my best friends was married there. So, personally speaking, Lone Elk is part of my culture as a St. Louis resident and an important part of my life. Removing this park from the community would be a serious injustice.

Maybe take a different approach. Try to gather more donor attention... charge for admission... something. I know there are people in the community that would be happy to contribute more to alleviate the stress on the local budget.

There is nothing positive that will come out of closing Lone Elk Park. Not only will people loose the oppurtunity to enjoy this beautiful place, but what will happen to the bison, wild turkey, waterfowl, elk and deer that make this place their home!? Who is going to conserve this land and protect these animals' rights?

Just absurd....what will the County DO w/the land if these parks close? Sell it and pave it over? ABSURD!!!! "You don't know whacha got 'till it's gone..We paved paradise, and put in a parking lot..."

I have 4 grandchildren and I love taking them to Lone Elk and Suson Park, they like looking at all the animals. We have enough subdivision's, strip malls and parking lots, but my grandchildren and other people's children can benefit from watching the animals at Lone Elk Park and being up close and personal at Suson Park. There has to be another way to do things rather than closing ANY of the parks that alot of people enjoy!

As for myself I visit Suson Park year round as a fisherman, others who fish there as well enjoy the park. There is one thing I've noticed over the past few weeks that animals are being removed and either relocated or sent to the Zoo as feed for the Carnivores at the zoo. Suson Park is a widely used facility there is one drawback however, over the years the park service hired Park Rangers some of them perform their job dutifully others never bother to enforce the rules of the park by issuing summons to violaters. The cost to the county could be equalized if some of the Rangers would issue tickets to violaters rather than a verbal warning which generates zero revenue for the county. Why do we have ordinances that are never observed by some and they know who they are. Park Watch is absolutely useless since the violator has to be observed by a Ranger in order to generate a violation summons. If it is truly a violation in the Rangers observance to warrant a summons. There is a total lack of responsibility for actions toward violators,and people wonder why our system is so corrupt. I for one have stopped calling Park Watch because by the time the Ranger gets there the violators have left. No one bothers to check fishing permits as well as trout permits and the creel limits as well, might as well not have them if the Rangers can't issue a violation summons like a Game Warden. Well enough said you be the judge as to who needs to go or stay to keep the parks open to us.

One of the reasons we moved out to Eureka is to enjoy a beautiful scenic route home. Looking over at Lone Elk on the way down highway 44, I enjoy the drive down 109 because we have other things to look at besides buildings and houses. My kids enjoy hikes and looking at wildlife. We have enjoyed these parks in so many ways. You can't put a price tag on beauty and nature. If the parks are sold and made into tract housing or office space. We will not get this back. I would venture to say that this would also hurt homeowner's property values, because this is one of the benefits of living in this area. We are not out in the country, we have shopping and city life near by but it still feels like we are. I certainly will not vote for anyone who will be willing to sell our parks. It is a precious resource that cannot be replaced.

I say, don't vote for Charlie Dooley next election, he obviously doesn't care about the environment or our property values. If he wants to trim the fat, how about his 140,000.00 salary?

If Dooley would simply stop putting millions of dollars in trains and buses nobody rides, I bet we could keep the parks open. Just a thought....

They can not shut this park down. I take my daughters 8 and 4 there all the time we get out and walk I show them what a buck rub looks like scraps, deer trails it helps me teach them what to look for. It helps our youth learn about the great outdoors they complain about children always playing video games and then they want to shut down great places like lone elk where kids love to go. This is one of my favorite places to visit. I will let everyone I know to sign a petition If you get one going.

I agree with those who have already commentated. The green space is a big part of why we moved here. Please draft a petition or next thing you know we'll be discussing whether or not to hire sharp shooters to "control" the elk and bison population to keep them from destroying subdivision yards. When will we wake up??

How about a big sign upon entering with a donation box? Something like, "2,000 people visit this park every month. Given our operating budget, that adds up to X dollars per visit. Please consider donating your share of our expenses, or better yet, a little more, to keep this park open." Or call it a voluntary admission fee and make it enough so that if every third car ponies up, it would be enough to keep the park open. I'm utterly willing to pay. I was married in Lone Elk park (an elk came to the reception, a lone one), and we have taken our children there scores of times since. I value it; I'll pay my share to keep it open. Also, put a "donate now" button on the County Parks website if there isn't one.

These parks should absolutely stay open! It is appalling to me that closing them is even being considered. Why aren't they trying to find ways to keep them open? This is a tragedy if they are closed.

I am on board to help with anything I can. Please contact me!

This makes me sick. Does the government have no respect for Nature? Lone Elk Park is a park unlike any other. To close it would be a travesty. Where else can you go to drive through a park and see animals in their native habitat roaming free. And the birds at the World Bird Sanctuary. Please don't close it, what about having a $5 per car fee to enter the park and keep it open? Won't that help?

Isn't it curious that during discussions of budgets, it never occurs to governmental bodies to cut the fat at the top, such as administrators like Charlie Dooley? No, they always want to trim the very things that the public values the most. It will be police & firefighters they want to cut next. We need to draft a replacement for Dooley because he's out of touch with St. Louis County residents!

I use these parks at least once a month. I hike and camp in Greensfelder and West Tyson and I take my children to observe the wildlife in Lone Elk. These lands belong to the people of St. Louis County. It should not be up to one County Executive to decide their fate. This decision should be put to the people of the county in a referendum.

I totally agree with all the comments to date.
Do not close ANY of our parks. Look at other ways to save money.
I agree with the other comment about Dooley's salary. What about all of their salaries and the "perks" that they all receive.
Let us "little" people and our nature alone!

Absolutely opposed to closing any of this green space that, although was created as park space many years ago, represents a very forward thinking movement toward saving something for our children and grandchildren. Please start a petition. We enjoy these parks with our children and have little other opportunity for viewing these types of spaces. Thank you!

Please include me in opposing the closing of these parks.

Someone started an online petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/st-louis-county-executive-stop-closing-our-st-louis-parks-with-your-budget-cuts

I say cut the budget from the top down not the bottom up! I know as a business owner when there is not enough money to go around it is my pay that gets cut! I don't throw the little guy under the bus so I can keep a fat paycheck! I think that all Gov. officials should be willing to take a cut in pay and LOSE the golden umbrella of their special health care, retirement and self proclaimed pay raises!!! Honestly congress gets full pay for the rest of their lives for any amount of time in office, Special health care and they make their own pay raises whenever they want!!! What else to the gov. officials do that we aren't even aware of? Oh but they want to close our parks, SHAME ON THEM. Government used to be volunteer positions filled by regular people wanting to better thing for everybody. Not now, now it's career politicians wanting to better things for a select few...themselves

Clseing any of the AWESOME and BEAUITFUL PARKS would be so sad where would you take a baby? to show him nature? or a child where would to show run and play? Or a couple in love go to be al;one? How about the the Elks where they go to run and be free?

Don't close any of these parks parks

The thought of St. Louis County, or the entire metropolitan St. Louis region, losing Lone Elk Park (LEP) is horrific. I'm 48-years-old and have been visiting LEP since I was a boy. My parents took me there when I was a youngster and then I started going on my own. I've taken my son there many times now too. I cannot count how many times I go to LEP yearly just to reflect, to photograph wildlife, to enjoy the scenery, to hike, and just to be outside in nature. I live in Jefferson County and make about a 35 mile drive to get to LEP. Most often, while I'm visiting the park I will stop before entering or after leaving to grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant, to fill up on gas, or stop at a store in Valley Park or Fenton. There's no telling how much I've spent in St. Louis County over the years just because I went to Lone Elk Park. LEP is a very unique park that has something for everyone. There is not much for employees there so I can't imagine it costing the county much to operate. If nothing else, they could require a fee to visit LEP. I would pay it. What can we do to stop this tragedy? Keep me posted please!

Dooley's budget is a worn out tactic to gain the upper hand vs. the County Council. It's also reprehensible. Do you remember back in the day when Ronald Reagan was pushing his budget recommendations through congress? He went directly to the people with his reasons for the budget items. During part of his contention with congress, he addressed the tactics of the bureaucrats when the budget would adversely affect their domain. Reagan said that the first thing bureaucrats would cut is the allocation for the elevator at the Washington Monument.

Fast forward to the present and we have Charles Dooley, bureaucrat.

Thanks to everyone for your very thoughtful observations and comments about this matter. Our Eureka-Wildwood Patch coverage of the subject has been shared with Executive Director Charlie Dooley, the St. Louis County Parks director, and the District 7 County Council representative. Please return for updates, and keep your comments coming! Thanks again.

Good job Julie! Great idea to ask for comments giving us a way to connect with others quickly. The vote is in a few weeks not giving us much time. There is a group that is trying to help the city by getting the word out about this. Our parks, children and the animals will have a place in the future if we work as a community to preserve what the founders of Wildwood gave to us. We are the next generation and it is in our hands now to thank them.

i am constantly trail riding in Greensfelder with my daughter and son. Not to mention we hold fundraisers there at the park. This park closing would not only destroy park goers but also effect some non profits that do fundraising efforts there!

Our county parks are our legacy for the future. A short sighted decision to close parks for near term economic issues is not the answer. The parks belong to the citizens, and the citizens should be consulted and presented with options for keeping the parks open. Instead, the county leadership is making a carte blanche decision without sharing or discussion of options for keeping the parks open. There are many viable options for keeping the parks open such as reduced services, per day usage fees, annual resident usage fees, enforcing the collection of already existing fees (which are not well enforced today), partnering with local municipalities, etc. I encourage the county leadership to reach out to the citizens and local municipalities, because our citizens possess a wealth of creativity that can be applied to solving the county’s budget shortfall.

Mr. Dooley's grand idea about closing our parks is ludicrous!!! its hard to believe that this has even been brought to the table!!!! this is the last thing st. Louis county should consider. We as adults, parents, and grandparents must protect and save these parks for future generations to enjoy just as we have. This whole thing not only sickens me, but it scares me. what will be next?

My husband and I visit the area 2-3 times a year and we always go to Lone Elk, World Bird and Powder Valley. They are wonderful. If St Louis closes these attractions, they can also say goodbye to the $2000 - $3000 a year we spend on these visits. Kentucky has some nice parks and so does Indiana...and I am sure I am not the only one from out of state who visits. By the way, we always put money in the donation boxes too - those who can't should enjoy without regret, but those who can should be ashamed of not contributing. It always bothers me to be behind a $40,000 SUV and see them not even slow down for the donation box!!

I visit Lone Elk park several times per year. I brag about it to my friends that live in other states....they have nothing like this. This park and the others help keep St. Louis County from turning into a concrete jungle. I agree with those who mentioned the same idea above: Think about our children and what will be left to them.

I have been visiting these parks for almost 40 years starting with Boy
Scout outings. These parks are unique treasures with unique land
features. The proposal to close these parks is an outrage. If this
happens, I'm sure the next step will be to sell off this land for
development - a crime in my view. I suggest that Dooley finds
something else to sell.

While not knowing all of the details on this what I DO know is that the people of St Louis NEED these parks! There is no fee to get into these parks (except a small fee at times to get into George Winter Park.) Why not charge a small fee (& I DO MEAN SMALL) to get in. This is nature people! Are you seriously going to take NATURE away from us too???
Here is JUST A THOUGHT! In order to make money (& i can not beleive that I am typing this ~ as I really don't see where a NATURAL setting is supposed to be a MONEY MAKER!) When having benefit dinner for Government officials, instead of charging $1000.00 per plate charge $1500.00 per plate & put $500.00 of each plate towards the parks. THAT would surely bring in some money because you KNOW there are always dinners!!!
I just DO NOT understand how you can SELL NATURE!!! I need a thorough explantaion PLEASE!!

For everyone that is interested in showing the county how you really feel, there will be a public meeting on Nov. 15th at 6:30pm at the county courthouse in Clayton. Let's rally together and and let these people know we mean business! This is an outrage. In Wildwood we have very few county services. The county parks are the one thing we cling to as a county resource we truly enjoy and share with everyone.