St. Charles County adds Bangert Island as 8th park
160-acre park in St. Charles offers natural beauty, trails along Missouri River
May21, 2008
St. Charles
Hosted by St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, Missouri Department of Conservation Director John Hoskins, and St. Charles County Parks Director Bettie Yahn-Kramer, a dedication ceremony Tuesday morning officially opened the Louis H. Bangert Memorial Wildlife Area (Bangert Island). The first County park established within the city limits of St. Charles, the site will provide St. Charles County residents and visitors with many outdoor recreational opportunities.
The hour-long ceremony brought together state and local officials, community leaders, and distinguished guests to introduce the eighth park in the County system. Following a ribbon cutting at the park trailhead, guests joined a leisurely hike along the park trail that connects the Katy Trail to an overlook along the Missouri River. Members of the Gateway Off-Road Cyclists (GORC) - whose volunteer efforts assisted in formation of the park - led the first mountain bike ride through the island’s 2.6-mile tract of natural-surface trails.
Located on an island in the Missouri River just south of the Blanchette Bridge, the 160-acre property is an example of a typical wooded Missouri River island. Plant life includes cottonwood, sycamore, box elder, silver maple, and black willow trees; and a host of native wildflowers.
While using the park’s natural-surface trails for hiking or mountain biking, guests may encounter white-tailed deer, small mammals, turkey, and a variety of songbirds. In addition to hiking, biking, and bird-watching, park visitors may also enjoy nature photography opportunities, viewing the display of fall foliage, and fishing along the riverbank.
Guests may enter Bangert Island from the Katy Trail entrance along Old South River Road (near the intersection of South Main Street and South River Road, one-half mile south of Interstate 70) and then cross a slough that connects the island to the mainland.
The park will be open year-round from sunrise to sunset. However, the park may be closed during high river levels if the trail access is blocked by high water.
For information on the status of Bangert Island, visitors may call the Parks Department’s Closure/Cancellation hotline at 636-949-7475.
Bangert Island is a joint partnership between the Missouri Department of Conservation and the St. Charles County Parks Department. Under the agreement, the Department of Conservation owns the property - following a 1976 donation by Anna Louise Kurtz and Edwin Kurtz to honor Anna’s father, Louis H. Bangert - and the Parks Department will manage the park through a 30-year renewable lease. The lease agreement was approved by the St. Charles County Council in November 2007 following several months of discussion on the project. Work on the island began in December 2007 and was completed earlier this month.
The Parks Department will offer nearly 150 programs for County residents and visitors this year at each of the eight parks open to the public. Including guided hikes, bike, and horseback rides; events for children; educational lectures; pet-related activities; and other natural recreational opportunities, the majority of these events are free and open to everyone.
Events planned at Bangert Island are Guided Mountain Bike Rides on the fourth Wednesday of each month (the next event is scheduled May 28 at 6 p.m.); a guided hike to focus on the display of fall foliage on October 13, and a Kids’ Mountain Biking day on October 13. For information on these programs or any St. Charles County Park program, please visit www.stccparks.org or call 636-949-7535.
Formed in 1997 by the citizens of St. Charles County, the Parks Department currently operates eight parks within its system - with several additional properties under development. Located throughout St. Charles County, these parks offer open natural areas, picnic shelters, camping sites, special events facilities, fishing lakes, and much more.
For information on the St. Charles County Parks Department, please call
(636) 949-7535 or visit www.stccparks.org.
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