An approximately six-year-long project to acquire and restore a 70.4-acre property next to the 970-acre Young Conservation Area in the Jefferson County portion of Eureka has been completed.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), in collaboration with Open Space STL, completed the restoration and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 28 to mark the occasion.
Now that the expansion and restoration are complete, the conservation area includes more than 1,040 acres for the people of Eureka, Jefferson County and the St. Louis area to enjoy, said Dan Zarlenga, MDC’s St. Louis region media specialist.
“The additional 70 acres will provide more natural space for visitors to explore, pursue bird watching, self-guided hiking, hunting, nature photography and wildlife viewing,” he said. “It also adds more protection for the LaBarque Creek watershed. This treasure is a pristine aquatic ecosystem and is home to at least 54 species of fish and a wide array of invertebrate life, with a biodiversity almost three times greater than that of any of the 15 other tributaries of the Meramec River below LaBarque.”
Open Space STL bought the land from the Click family on March 26, 2020, for $460,000. The purchase was funded through a partnership between Open Space STL and the Robert J. Trulaske Jr. Family Foundation, which contributed $300,000 toward the acquisition.
Bonnie Harper, executive director of Open Space STL, said the journey to acquire the property began in 2017 when Open Space STL approached the landowners to discuss the possibility of purchasing the land for conservation purposes. After the land was secured in 2020, Open Space STL turned the property over to the MDC and worked closely on the restoration.
Harper said the first step to restore the land was a big one – removing the trash.
“The property was littered with debris,” Harper said. “There was so much stuff, including old structures in disrepair, a swimming pool, piles of broken glass, discarded roof shingles, tires and so much more.”
Over the course of two years, the MDC, Open Space STL and local volunteers worked to remove trash and demolish unsafe structures, Harper said.
“The initial cleanup event took place in 2021 with the help of 30 participants,” she said. “During that cleanup, 17,100 pounds of trash was removed, along with 65 passenger tires, one farm truck tire and 5,740 pounds of metal.
“The next big cleanup was in 2022 with 26 participants. They removed an additional 800 pounds of trash and 926 pounds of scrap metal.”
By the summer of 2022, crews also had demolished an old cabin in disrepair, an in-ground swimming pool and an old foundation on the property.
Zarlenga said all the work has paid off.
“The area looks amazing, thanks to the work of Stream Team volunteers, Open Space STL and the MDC,” he said. “The new acres have truly come back to nature and now provide an excellent habitat for wildlife and a beautiful place for people to enjoy.”
Zarlenga said the conservation area includes 6 miles of trails.
“The area’s main trail is the LaBarque Hills Trail, which explores the area’s forested uplands,” he said. “A smaller loop, called the Taconic Loop Trail, traverses the more open lowlands of the area. The trailhead for the LaBarque Hills Trail is located along the southeastern portion of the Taconic Loop Trail. Hikers can use the Taconic Loop Trail from the parking lot to access the LaBarque Hills Trail.”
Harper said she is proud of the much-needed work Open Space STL and the MDC completed in the conservation area.
“This is such a win-win,” she said. “We’re protecting stream resources, the water quality, the aquatic biodiversity, and we’re adding new recreation opportunities for all the citizens in the area. It’s such a beautiful area, and we’re so happy we did this.”