Missouri Governor Wants to Discuss Parks Issue

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's interest in helping keep open some or all of the St. Louis County parks threatened with closure is "great news for us," county spokesman Mac Scott said Wednesday night.

"Very preliminarily, the governor has reached out to us and said, 'Hey, let's talk. Let's see if there is some place we can help,'" Scott said.

He didn't know whether a meeting had yet been planned between the county and the governor or his staff.

"We're serious in thanking the governor and looking forward to what we can work out," Scott said.

“Whether they’re county, state or national parks, America’s outdoor spaces are jewels to be treasured,” Gov. Nixon said in a news release. “I’m extremely proud of our outstanding network of 85 state parks and historic sites that preserve and share Missouri’s natural and cultural resources. County and local parks are also invaluable assets that make Missouri communities wonderful places to live, work and raise a family. I am committed to working with County Executive Dooley and his team to explore ways we can help keep some of these parks open for Missourians. In these challenging times, we must continue to work together to make sure Missourians can enjoy the natural beauty of our state.”

“My strong desire is to protect these beautiful parks for our residents, but the current financial reality has forced us to consider some ,” St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley said. “I appreciate Gov. Nixon’s willingness to work with us to identify strategies to keep these parks up and running. We are committed to continuing to work with him to identify the best path forward.”