Park supporters offer ideas for closed Ozark Mountain State Park
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BRANSON NEWS: CLOSE
Members of the public share their views about future of closed park Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 at a public meeting in Branson.
Wes Johnson/News-LeaderBuy PhotoTy Lewis of Branson takes a a closer look at an aerial view of Ozark Mountain State Park during Monday’s public meeting.(Photo: Wes Johnson/News-Leader)Buy PhotoIt’s closed now.But fans of Ozark Mountain State Park north of Branson shared what they’d like to see the park become during a public meeting Monday evening at Dewey Short Visitors Center on Table Rock Lake.About 80 people attended the meeting, where Missouri State Parks staff provided information about the 1,011-acre park, purchased for $2 million under former Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration.Missouri State Parks Director Ben Ellis squelched some views that the state wanted to get rid of Ozark Mountain State Park, and three others purchased during Nixon’s tenure.Buy PhotoA map at Monday’s meeting shows the outline of the 1,011-acre Ozark Mountain State Park. (Photo: Wes Johnson/News-Leader)”There has been out in the media the thought that we might sell these properties,” Ellis said. “I can tell you right now that at the current time we’re not looking at selling these properties. We’re looking for options so we can move forward to provide the best access, the best protection, the best stewardship that we can.”Ellis said there’s no time frame yet for when decisions will be made on how any parks might be developed. He notes that it’s not unusual for land bought for future state parks to remain undeveloped until money is available to build amenities and hire staff to run them.Several old farm buildings, along with a one-room school, remain on the Ozark Mountain State Park property. (Photo: File photo)No money or staff was added to the state park budget when …
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