Questions concerning Bull Shoals and two parks!

 

Forsyth Mo. - As March of 2021 was drawing to a close, the status of two popular are parks near the town of Forsyth Missouri remained open to question!

River Run, a parks controlled by the government and Shadowrock Park, a recreational area leased from the government stand apart from each other by a narrow body of water. One is partially flooded while the other, graced with a bit of height, stood high and dry. The question, in my mind, on March 30^th, was one of water levels... will they rise on April, fall or stay the same? 

 

Eighty degrees at River Run Park! Which was closed...

I consider any day in the spring that hits the 80 degree plus mark to be a good day. That was just the case on April 16, 2019 as I wandered about the River Run Park on a partly cloudy Tuesday.

This venerable old park that is maintained by the government was missing only a few things; an attendant, water and electricity! The Corps just could not seem to understand that no one likes working for free. And that was why the Park was essentially dead in the water for this year and would likely remain so indefinitely.

So, while us citizens were free to go there (at least for now, until they close the gates), and maybe wander around. campers and RV'ers were verboten. The sister Park aka Shadowrock, did have a paid attendant as the space was leased from the Corps of Engineers and looked to have a good crop of vacationers in the early going. I understood that spots were already be reserved for large reunions beginning Easter weekend. Great!

So, let me see, a park run by the government was closed making no profits for anyone while costing money to maintain. Another park run by the City of Forsyth was open and making at least enough money to help offset maintenance and upkeep expenses. Was there some some of moral or lesson to be learned here....

April 6, 2019 - A darn nice day!

Forsyth MO. - Arising to a nice spring day is both a pleasure and a blessing. Sure, it was hazy and maybe the temps, in the mid sixties were not perfect, but that didn't matter. It was a Saturday, and many people were off from work making area parks hotbeds of activity; people fishing, kids running around, and old men like myself just enjoying the greenery that was emerging like a pistol shot! I hobbled around was walking path and then stopped to enjoy what I felt was a very meager lunch. After Empire Park I headed over to Shadowrock Park where I noted that five RV's had already set up residence! I was thinking that most of the spots would be taken by mid month, at that rate.

Bull Shoals was near normal!

For the evening hours, a thunderstorm or two was forecast and the local radar seemed to confirm the possibility. By hey, a 70 degree day made it very worth while. And Sunday promised to be even better with a forecast high of 75! And, yes, I planned to be out there again putting one foot in front of the other.

The forgotten Park - River Run!

Forsyth MO. - One of the great pleasures of living in a rural setting that is hilly, green and blessed with water ways are the parks, wherever and whenever you find them.

The Forsyth Missouri area in southwest Missouri is blessed with two great recreational parks; Shadowrock Park which the town leases from the Corp of Engineers and River Run which is run by the Corps. Shadowrock has faced some challenges over the last year or two with the construction of a nearby bridge and roundabout. That process, thankfully, is nearing an end and the hope is that this great park will be restored to full usefulness. River Run had also been impacted by the bridge construction but additionally faced other obstacles,  notably the aforementioned Corps of Engineers. And that is the topic of this post.

Two gates control access!

Years ago, I lived in a neighborhood that was adjacent to River Run and for many years, I fully enjoyed the covered RV sites and the boat launch. Then sometime around 2012 or 2013, a pair of gates (see diagram above) were erected at the Hwy 76 junction and at the top of the hill on Baker street. When they were closed, the park was effectively closed. I recall that the first time I really paid attention was during the government shutdown in October of 2013. Over the course of the years to come, these gates were closed more and more often. Many times it was explained by the Corp that it was over 'safety' concerns due to flooding. OK. But I wondered about all the decades that came before there were gates. Whenever the park flooded, folks knew not to drive there... Whatever, now the Corps had a convenient way to completely shut down that park whenever the mood hit them.

Then, a series of event occurred. First, it was the installation of sewers and then it was the bridge construction that keep both gates closed most all the time. And I could understand the reasoning there. However today, not so much so. You see, even as it may be proper to keep Gate 1 closed due to road construction for the new bridge, Gate 2 could be opened. Guys with boats could then use the boat ramp while others could walk or picnic. Sorry! There is a sign at gate 2 that states the park is flooded - Uh, no the Bull Shoals level was only at 657 feet msl, or about two feet below normal! So, you can see my confusion here.

While all these events were going on, the park has continued down the path of neglect and decay, not showing much in the way of care that I could determine from my viewpoint across the river. Hey! That's my park they're messing with!

Here's my thinking for 2019. Why not encourage the Town of Forsyth to take out a lease on River Run, like it has for the other park? It seems to me that the Corps of Engineers may be too busy doing other stuff (what stuff I have no clue?) to be effective and perhaps our City Hall might even make a few bucks off it come next summer. Just a thought.

Two area parks closed for the season!

 

View of Shadow Rock Park from Hwy 160!

 Forsyth MO. – Two very popular parks located near Forsyth MO became flooded late in April and are likely to remain closed for the balance of the year!

Heavy rains, once again fell over much of southwest Missouri as the Gulf of Mexico opened back up with a vengeance. And, whenever a lot of rain fall in a short time, the series of reservoirs that constitute Beaver, Table Rock and Bull Shoals get backed up. This will have a bad overall effect on many businesses that count on the extra income that summertime vacationers bring. One business, in particular, is a convenience store called Peggy's Park Place. Please be sure to go there and to support her at this time of need!This is a start up business and is all about what we are all about! Also impacted in a negative way will be the City of Forsyth that gets income from one of the parks directly.

So, if you're thinking of coming down to stay at either Shadow Rock or River Run Parks, make sure to check with the Corps of Engineers first!

River Run quiet in Mid June 2014!

A short run taken through River Run Park near Forsyth Missouri showed just a few slots taken by campers on what promises to be a quiet weekend in mid June. Lake levels are up a bit at 662.63 feet making boat ramp access a breeze!

Everything is very green due to the recent rains with lots of clean air and low pollen counts to help make an outing enjoyable at this time!

Air Evac Lifeteam to the rescue!

Air Evac team lifting off

 Parks are useful in ways that I hadn't considered before. They can also be used as Landing Zones for the Air Evac Lifeteam of helicopters that can speed critically injured people quickly to distant Trauma Centers like Saint Johns in Springfield Missouri when time is of the essence! That was the case on an otherwise quiet evening at River Run. Apparently some unfortunate person wrecked their car out on O Highway and sustained life threatening injuries that required the services of Air Evac.  A fast response service of Men and women who can be dispatched on a moments notice.  These skilled pilots and Emt's are able to land their crafts in dark locations, thereby putting themselves at risk in doing so. My hat is off to these brave individuals who, along with the First Responders and emergency personnel, form the front line of help when tragedy strikes.

March 2012 River Run Update

Forsyth, Mo. - God willing and the creek don’t rise, River Run looks to be in good shape for the spring and summer season of 2012. After heavy rains occurred over a four day period that dumped anywhere from four to five and more inches, the river system looks good to go. As you can see, there are quite a few fishermen out on the water when I took these pictures on Sunday, March 25, 2012. I haven’t heard how the fishing has been, but I am guessing it’s pretty decent since this part of the river was flooded out most of last year.

The Park Attendant station has been setup, but I haven’t seen anyone manning it yet. Likewise the electricity and water are still shut off until the season opens in April. However, as you can see the RV sites look to be in good shape and ready for some folks to come down and use them! I’ll try and do a post at this blog when I see that things are running.