Missouri State Parks celebrates its centennial in 2017, beginning April 9 with a special exhibition in the Capitol rotunda. But state Rep. Robert Ross, R-Houston, and a few others are casting a dark shadow over the yearlong celebration of one of the best state park systems in the country. State parks have been under attack in the legislature this session, and they need your help.

More than a dozen bills would do real damage to existing parks, hobble the acquisition of new parkland and in the process hurt the people and local economies of Missouri. That is on top of the massive damage already inflicted last May, when the General Assembly removed $40 million for infrastructure rehabilitation in parks statewide from the first major bond issue for state buildings since the mid-1980s and refused to reappropriate another $15 million previously authorized.

This year, Rep. Ross introduced a bill, HB 2187, that would require the state to sell 4,200 acres along the Eleven Point River already acquired for a new park using settlement funds from lead mining damages. The Eleven Point was one of the initial rivers designated in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. The bill passed the House and has been voted �do pass� from a Senate committee.

Rep. Ross is also proposing a constitutional amendment � HJR 101, already reported from committee � that would repeal the parks, soils and water sales tax and replace it with a new version that would require the Department of Natural Resources to pay property tax on all state parks acquired since 1985. This would create massive public confusion in a year in which the tax, on which the parks are utterly dependent for operations and maintenance, is up for renewal by voters statewide.

State parks already make payments in lieu of taxes for five years while new parks are being developed, but there is scant rationale for payments beyond that when recent studies have shown that parks result in some $26 in regional economic activity and tax payments for every dollar expended by the state.

The Senate has approved Sen. Mike Cunningham�s SB 682, which would require public notice and local hearings before any proposed land acquisition, and it has already been heard in the House. The bill�s mandates would hinder the state�s ability to acquire land or negotiate a fair price. Other bills would prevent any land acquisition, even by donation or bequest from private landowners, without approval of both houses.

There is also a threat to the Katy Trail from a bill, HB 2047, that would allow motorized vehicles up to 5 feet wide and 1 ton in weight to be used by anyone over age 60. People with disabilities currently may use electric vehicles on the trail. Allowing gasoline-powered ATVs not only disturbs the trail�s peace and quiet but would cause more wear and tear and would endanger nonmotorized users.

As if that were not enough, the House has been deleting some state park items from the various appropriation bills, but so far the Senate has been trying to restore them, with results still uncertain.

It is critical to respectfully let your legislators know what you think about these attacks on state parks. Visit the Missouri Parks Association website for more information about the many issues facing state parks and more.