Big plans revealed at Roaring River Informational Meeting
July 3, 2019
Charlea Estes-Jones
Roaring River State Park's informational meeting publicized quite a few items of interest to patrons of the park. The meeting was held on Wednesday, June 19, and among improvements coming to Roaring River in the coming year include a pilot wifi program, possibly a splash pad, stone work repair and improved flood remediation in the campgrounds.
Speaking during the meeting included state parks director Ben Ellis, new natural resources manager Joel Topham, interpretive resource specialist II Kelly Koch, park ranger Corporal Steve Jabben, hatchery manager Paul Spurgeon and concessionaire manager David Waugh.
Of the topics discussed, one of the more exciting elements to be added to Roaring River State Park is park-wide wifi. Topham said, "We already have the infrastructure set up here in the park. Since we have GoBec with the fiber, the Inn has GoBec with fiber and we actually have that here now within our actual network system. They'll be providing and running that system so that'll be the backbone.
"It should be up and running some time this fall."
Topham said that the internet that was at the park prior to GoBec had a lot of issues, making it unreliable.
Roaring River is one of two state parks that will be part of a pilot program for wifi in state parks. The other park to test a state parks internet program is Montauk State Park.
The current plan is for wifi to be introduced to park patrons with the first 30 minutes free and a pay option for after the initial 30 minutes. Wifi in state parks has been discussed often during informational meetings. Natural resource manager Joel Topham commented, "We're excited about the opportunity since we have a valuable resource with GoBec here."
Other changes coming will include a change to the park's swimming pool with the final decision later in the season. Plagued with repairs needed, the park is planning to close the pool and possible replace it with a splash pad, which will require less maintenance. Cost was a big factor in the decision to close the pool.
Topham said, "With the age of the pool and everything going on with the pool itself, like the kiddie pool has been off line for at least five years, we have to make a decision. There is a major pipe that has broken, and it's all under concrete. It continually leaks, and there's no way to operate and run that pool. The pool is aging and it's something we want to upgrade, maybe putting in a splash pad.
"We are testing splash pads out at other parks, like Echo Bluff. They are looking at adding some other splash pads at other parks, as well. We will hopefully be learning from those parks and how they do those systems. But as far as the pool, we'll take it off line and offer a different aquatic experience."
The final decision about the pool will be at the end of the season.
Other updates include changes to the pads in Campground 2, which regularly experiences devastating flood effects when the river breaches its banks. Test sites will receive a geogrid treatment, which is a polymer-based mat that can be reused and topped with rock or aggregate.
Topham said, "So, those sites that do flood, it'll be easier to pick the pads up, raise them, and move them with the geogrids. It's more efficient to repair sites that are damaged by washed away soil and rock.
"When it floods, it drops more sediment, and that builds up over time. We're looking at when we do flood clean up, we clean up the pads, but a lot of the sediment that settles in the grass keeps building and building and the pad ends up being lower than the surrounding ground."
The current sites are either asphalt or concrete pads or rock.
Topham said, "Some areas we would strip back down to bare dirt and make them flat and even and then bring in aggregate to build them up and then set the geogrids there which then get filled in with rock or aggregate."
The geogrids are reusable, making them a more financially responsible choice over time.
Topham also touched on a restorative stone project that began yesterday. A company has been hired to reset the original CCC stone in retaining walls as well as re-pouring the sidewalk.
Topham said, "Currently with the CCC stone project, we are doing the part of the bank over by the CCC lodge. They are removing brush and some vegetation, and they'll be removing soil along the first hole up from the CCC bridge and the second where the gazebo where the opening shot is fired.
“From where the gazebo is going back toward the hatchery spring, there is going to slope that bank down to the river. They'll actually pull up some of the old piping from the old swimming pool and the dirt. And they'll restore the old CCC stone retaining wall, cut that bank and angle it down toward the river and put sod and grass there. They'll be replacing the sidewalk from the spring to the CCC lodge itself. They'll also be resetting stone at the entrance point of Deer Leap at both sides and stone work on the Deer Leap trail on the hatchery side."
Missouri State Parks director Ben Ellis was also on hand to discuss some of the more state parks-wide initiatives and hear feedback from those who use the park. He mentioned that Topham's involvement in the park has brought a lot of positive change just since September when he took over as natural resources manager. Ellis said, "Campground 3 really was a mess, and thanks to Joel, it's the best it's been in years."
Toward the end of the speakers, Missouri Conservation Department deputy director Aaron Jeffries addressed the proposed change to trout tag fishing tags, which ware proposed to be raised February 29, 2020. Jeffries said that overall, MDC hasn't received much public comment regarding the change, meaning that most people don't appear to be bothered by the change. He said, "I've done the research and Missouri State Parks trout fishing is a really good deal. Paying a few dollars to fish instead of paying for a day tag and per pound you catch at a private trout establishment isn't comparable. You're looking at over $40 to fish at those types of places. I feel like our hatcheries and parks give citizens a good value you don't see elsewhere."
The proposal, if implemented, is for the cost to go from $7 to $10 for annual trout permits for anglers aged 16 and up and from $2.50 to $5 for anglers 15 and under. Trout permits do not apply to trout parks within Missouri State Parks. Daily tags at Roaring River, Meramec Spring Park, Bennett Spring State Park and Montauk State Park are proposed to go from $3 to $4 for a daily tag for adults and from $2 to $3 for children 15 years and younger.
While some public comments were raised about a few issues at the park, such as the need for 50 amp service at the full-hook up sites, overall, people were positive about the direction of the park currently. The 50 amp service is something being discussed for the parks statewide but no definite plans are set.
For more information about Roaring River State Park, contact the park office at (417) 847-2539.
Charlea Estes-Jones
Roaring River State Park's informational meeting publicized quite a few items of interest to patrons of the park. The meeting was held on Wednesday, June 19, and among improvements coming to Roaring River in the coming year include a pilot wifi program, possibly a splash pad, stone work repair and improved flood remediation in the campgrounds.
Speaking during the meeting included state parks director Ben Ellis, new natural resources manager Joel Topham, interpretive resource specialist II Kelly Koch, park ranger Corporal Steve Jabben, hatchery manager Paul Spurgeon and concessionaire manager David Waugh.
Of the topics discussed, one of the more exciting elements to be added to Roaring River State Park is park-wide wifi. Topham said, "We already have the infrastructure set up here in the park. Since we have GoBec with the fiber, the Inn has GoBec with fiber and we actually have that here now within our actual network system. They'll be providing and running that system so that'll be the backbone.
"It should be up and running some time this fall."
Topham said that the internet that was at the park prior to GoBec had a lot of issues, making it unreliable.
Roaring River is one of two state parks that will be part of a pilot program for wifi in state parks. The other park to test a state parks internet program is Montauk State Park.
The current plan is for wifi to be introduced to park patrons with the first 30 minutes free and a pay option for after the initial 30 minutes. Wifi in state parks has been discussed often during informational meetings. Natural resource manager Joel Topham commented, "We're excited about the opportunity since we have a valuable resource with GoBec here."
Other changes coming will include a change to the park's swimming pool with the final decision later in the season. Plagued with repairs needed, the park is planning to close the pool and possible replace it with a splash pad, which will require less maintenance. Cost was a big factor in the decision to close the pool.
Topham said, "With the age of the pool and everything going on with the pool itself, like the kiddie pool has been off line for at least five years, we have to make a decision. There is a major pipe that has broken, and it's all under concrete. It continually leaks, and there's no way to operate and run that pool. The pool is aging and it's something we want to upgrade, maybe putting in a splash pad.
"We are testing splash pads out at other parks, like Echo Bluff. They are looking at adding some other splash pads at other parks, as well. We will hopefully be learning from those parks and how they do those systems. But as far as the pool, we'll take it off line and offer a different aquatic experience."
The final decision about the pool will be at the end of the season.
Other updates include changes to the pads in Campground 2, which regularly experiences devastating flood effects when the river breaches its banks. Test sites will receive a geogrid treatment, which is a polymer-based mat that can be reused and topped with rock or aggregate.
Topham said, "So, those sites that do flood, it'll be easier to pick the pads up, raise them, and move them with the geogrids. It's more efficient to repair sites that are damaged by washed away soil and rock.
"When it floods, it drops more sediment, and that builds up over time. We're looking at when we do flood clean up, we clean up the pads, but a lot of the sediment that settles in the grass keeps building and building and the pad ends up being lower than the surrounding ground."
The current sites are either asphalt or concrete pads or rock.
Topham said, "Some areas we would strip back down to bare dirt and make them flat and even and then bring in aggregate to build them up and then set the geogrids there which then get filled in with rock or aggregate."
The geogrids are reusable, making them a more financially responsible choice over time.
Topham also touched on a restorative stone project that began yesterday. A company has been hired to reset the original CCC stone in retaining walls as well as re-pouring the sidewalk.
Topham said, "Currently with the CCC stone project, we are doing the part of the bank over by the CCC lodge. They are removing brush and some vegetation, and they'll be removing soil along the first hole up from the CCC bridge and the second where the gazebo where the opening shot is fired.
“From where the gazebo is going back toward the hatchery spring, there is going to slope that bank down to the river. They'll actually pull up some of the old piping from the old swimming pool and the dirt. And they'll restore the old CCC stone retaining wall, cut that bank and angle it down toward the river and put sod and grass there. They'll be replacing the sidewalk from the spring to the CCC lodge itself. They'll also be resetting stone at the entrance point of Deer Leap at both sides and stone work on the Deer Leap trail on the hatchery side."
Missouri State Parks director Ben Ellis was also on hand to discuss some of the more state parks-wide initiatives and hear feedback from those who use the park. He mentioned that Topham's involvement in the park has brought a lot of positive change just since September when he took over as natural resources manager. Ellis said, "Campground 3 really was a mess, and thanks to Joel, it's the best it's been in years."
Toward the end of the speakers, Missouri Conservation Department deputy director Aaron Jeffries addressed the proposed change to trout tag fishing tags, which ware proposed to be raised February 29, 2020. Jeffries said that overall, MDC hasn't received much public comment regarding the change, meaning that most people don't appear to be bothered by the change. He said, "I've done the research and Missouri State Parks trout fishing is a really good deal. Paying a few dollars to fish instead of paying for a day tag and per pound you catch at a private trout establishment isn't comparable. You're looking at over $40 to fish at those types of places. I feel like our hatcheries and parks give citizens a good value you don't see elsewhere."
The proposal, if implemented, is for the cost to go from $7 to $10 for annual trout permits for anglers aged 16 and up and from $2.50 to $5 for anglers 15 and under. Trout permits do not apply to trout parks within Missouri State Parks. Daily tags at Roaring River, Meramec Spring Park, Bennett Spring State Park and Montauk State Park are proposed to go from $3 to $4 for a daily tag for adults and from $2 to $3 for children 15 years and younger.
While some public comments were raised about a few issues at the park, such as the need for 50 amp service at the full-hook up sites, overall, people were positive about the direction of the park currently. The 50 amp service is something being discussed for the parks statewide but no definite plans are set.
For more information about Roaring River State Park, contact the park office at (417) 847-2539.
