St. Louis County may sell parks to save $10 million

CLAYTON, Mo. -- St. Louis County could soon put "for sale" signs up at about a dozen county parks.

County Executive Charlie Dooley's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year calls for eliminating 23 parks, a move that he believes would save $10 million annually. Officials hope they can sell 12 of the parks to municipalities in the county or to the state.

Officials told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch they have not yet contacted the state or municipalities to discuss the possible sale of parks that include Lone Elk Park, Greensfelder and George Winter.

Opponents on the St. Louis County Council believe the county administration has exaggerated the budget problems. They believe there are alternatives that would keep the parks open. The council's chairman, Steve Stenger, like Dooley a Democrat, on Tuesday announced creation of a special budget committee to look more closely at the county's finances.

Parks director Lindsey Swanick compared the department's plight with that of a cash-strapped homeowner.

"It's like people having to choose whether to buy food or medicine," she said.

Some parks employees feel the department is being unfairly targeted. Esley Hamilton, the county's preservation historian, said polls have shown that the value county residents place on parks is second only to police protection.

Esley is himself a casualty of cost cutting -- his position is among those being eliminated, and he said he was told to retire.

Some of the parks that could be closed or sold are among the most popular in the region. Wildwood Mayor Tim Woerther said he would be open to the idea of taking over the 1,734-acre Greensfelder.

The possible sale of Lone Elk and its elk, deer and other animals caught environmentalists and historic preservationists by surprise.

"I don't think it's up to those guys to make that decision," said Walter Crawford, executive director of the World Bird Sanctuary, which borders Lone Elk Park. "That park belongs to you and me."

Parks that aren't sold face closure.

"We would put up barricades at the gate, pull the picnic tables, pull the barbecue pits. You let the grass grow, and maybe cut it a couple of times a year," Swanick said. The parks would be reopened when money becomes available.

Officials said deed restrictions and covenants would prohibit the sale of most of the parks to private individuals.

Kathleen Logan Smith, executive director for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, said the plan could hurt property values and tax revenue because people put a high value on living near parks.

Republican County Council member Greg Quinn of Chesterfield, whose district includes Lone Elk and Greensfelder, said he was confident alternatives could be found to closing parks.

"I don't think we have a financial crisis," Quinn said. "I think we can scale back where we need to and keep the parks open and preserve our other services."