St. Charles County Parks Opens Their 20th Park Location

The newest location in the St. Charles County Park System, Spring Bend Park, is officially open to the public. Holding 126 acres of land just off Upper Bottom Road in St. Charles, the property was donated to the park system back in 2007 by Nancy Knowles and her family, who have deep roots in the area and operated a small farm on the land for years. The park now holds some beautiful prairie and river views to be explored.

“[The land] had been in her family for many, many years, and they obviously had a lot of love for the property, and with everything that was developing in St. Charles County wanted to make sure that it wasn’t going to be another subdivision or strip mall,” St. Charles County Park Director Ryan Graham said. “So, they donated the property to the county and put in a dedicated conservation easement, which allows us to maintain the property in a natural setting.”

With about 1.5 miles of trail right now, visitors can enjoy a serene walk along the bluffs and grasslands above the Missouri River. The trail has plenty of different intersections and routes to discover, and there are plans to add up to 2.5 more miles by the time the park has finished development. With so much to explore, this plot of land is a haven for all sorts of feathered friends, and bird-watchers should quickly begin flocking to Spring Bend to see them.

“[Spring Bend has] natural prairies and woodlands, [and] provides great habitat for all sorts of animals and wildlife, basically a nice piece of green ground in otherwise concrete jungle,” Graham said. “It’s surrounded by development, and this is just a really unique piece of property, centered in a highly developed area of the county.”

Spring Bend’s status as a conservation easement allows for native vegetation to thrive and the natural beauty of the land to go untouched. It is the only park in the system with an easement, which helps it stand out as an exceptionally green area in the midst of a rapidly growing St. Charles.

“I think it provides a really important resource for the county and its citizens,” Graham said. “The Saint Charles County Parks and Recreation Department’s mission is to preserve green space and natural resources here in the county, and there’s not too many 126 acre parcels of ground that are relatively untouched in this heavily developed corridor,”

While the park’s main area is not overwhelmingly spacious, it still holds three different pavilions, two smaller ones and the main structure, which contains plenty of seating, porch swings, bathrooms, and free wifi. The Parks Department hopes the space will encourage outdoor working and learning for employees and students in the area. The park also plans on adding a connection point to Missouri’s Centennial Greenway, eventually allowing St. Charles residents access from anywhere.

Upon opening, the park has already seen plenty of people appreciating its views. There are plans for more amenities in the park, including an elevated platform overlooking the river, and a suspension bridge that will connect different trails through a gully. This also includes the extra mileages of trail being added, and once these phases are complete there will be a wide variety of opportunities for residents to appreciate the nature around them.

“It’s scientifically proven that getting outdoors in nature, being active, even just sitting outdoors, decreases stress,” Graham mentioned when discussing the Department’s mission to preserve green spaces. “It’s healthy for people to get outdoors and experience everything that has to offer. Being able to provide this new park and being able to keep it in a preserved state allows people to get out and disconnect from the busyness of everyday life.”

The opening of Spring Bend now marks the 20th park in the St. Charles County Parks System, and compared to the other 19, it’s certainly unique. Since it is the only park with a conservation easement, they must make sure to follow the Knowles stipulations for land management and conservation. This emphasis on preservation and respecting natural spaces is exactly what the Parks Department was founded on, and will continue to keep them successful with the opening of new parks and beyond.

“When people come to visit our parks, they are accustomed to seeing high quality parks and recreation opportunities,” Graham said. “I think [Spring Bend] provides a really unique opportunity for people to get out into nature, to learn about the environment around them, and do it in a spot that is relatively close to a lot of people’s homes.”

With the new park having opened on October 30th, St. Charles residents can begin making their way to check out the miles of grasslands and forests that Spring Bend has to offer. If you are looking for the best spot in the park to take it all in, Park Director Ryan Graham has you covered:

“Oh my gosh, it’s easily [the] four porch swings that are built into the shelter out there,” Graham said. “You can just sit on a porch swing and rock and enjoy the sun coming up, looking out over the prairie. I’ve sat out there quite a few times already and I’ve seen deer running through the prairie and a nice fog coming in off the morning and it’s just beautiful. It’s easily the best spot in the park, in my opinion. So, yeah, grab a porch swing and enjoy the view.”

St. Charles County Parks Opens Their 20th Park Location

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