As talk of Adrian's Island returns to Jefferson City, some News Tribune readers have indicated a desire to keep new taxpayer dollars out of any future development.
And that may be possible.
Between the funds already set aside and allocated for riverfront development and money other benefactors are willing to provide, the estimated $2.5 million cost of a bridge to the property could be covered.
(Adrian's Island is actually a peninsula between the Capitol building and the Missouri River that developed as settling sand and riverbottom accumulated from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' rock dikes built in the 1960s to maintain a 9-foot minimum channel depth.)
Jefferson City has about $473,000 in sales tax funds dedicated to a "riverfront park." Bill Lockwood, the city's Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department director, said that department has about $226,000 in riverfront-related trail money. And there is the Deborah Cooper Foundation for Riverfront Development, which was formed in the 1980s and has about $140,000 in it.
Those funds combined would be able to cover roughly $840,000 of the cost for any project. So where would the rest come from?
Recently, resident B.J. DeLong donated $50,000 to get the Adrian's Island project started again, with the money being used to pay for the preliminary design work for a bridge to the property. Preliminary design work by Bartlett & West is anticipated to be finished in November.
But DeLong's contribution isn't limited to that. Though she declined to specify the amount, DeLong said she believes between money she has set aside for Adrian's Island and interest she has received from other possible benefactors, along with the funds already identified, the cost for access could be covered.
Lockwood has said once the bridge is built, the property could be developed and maintained almost entirely on volunteer labor. Because the property is in a flood plain, only passive development would be allowed, meaning the area largely would be trails and a park-like setting.
Readers weigh in on Adrian's Island
As the Adrian's Island discussion comes back into the forefront, we asked readers to give us their thoughts on the project's revival. Some remain opposed to any development on the island, though others specify they would not be opposed as long as there is no public money in the project.
What about you? What are your thoughts on Adrian's Island? If no public money was involved, would you support it? Let us know your thoughts by commenting in the section below this article, on the News Tribune Facebook page or by contacting reporter Madeleine Leroux at [email protected].
From Lynn Waisner: "This land should NOT be developed. I agree with (Dennis) Morrissey and the railroad is a dangerous place. I worked for (Union Pacific) and dangerous and unexpected things happen. The injury or loss of life of just one person makes this project too risky to contemplate."
From Dana Wildhaber: "While I appreciate Mrs. DeLong's desire to see something done, I believe there are much easier places in (Jefferson City) to make us more of a river town. If you've not done so personally, take a trip out to Ellis-Porter or Riverside Park and stroll along the top of the bluff in a couple of places. Also note the old ball diamond down the hill and to the west of the old park manager's home, beautiful places for scenic overlooks or even restaurants looking up and down the river. Even if there will be no private development allowed, I see tremendous potential for expanding the views and vistas and enhancing the river experience from that location. Some promotion from the city about the park, I think would awaken many, many people who are not aware of the expanse and beauty of those spaces.
I would be very hesitant about crossing the rail line to get people to the island; I just think it would create a mental barrier and with limited amount of access for emergency personnel, a welcome place for crime. If it wouldn't take a huge amount of public money to gain access and or maintain after high water events, I'm all for it. We need to stop saying "NO' in Jefferson City, but in uncertain economic times, expending public funds needs to be carefully considered."
From Bill O'Neil: "Wow, Adrian's Island. Why does this community always revisit this concept? What is the attraction? Jefferson City has so many things that presently require attention, new fire stations or upgrades, new schools, aging infrastructure that will require money, replacements for police vehicles and the list goes on. But wait, let's totally waste some money on an area that we can develop that will do no real good and can be devastated by flooding every couple of years. Please, let's forget this idea until we solve our real problems. I, for one, would like to see more sidewalks around the city so pedestrians aren't in danger of getting run over when they go out for a walk, but I know there are much more pressing problems for our money; and I don't care who donates what, I don't want any of the money I contribute to go to Adrian's Island."
From Leon Zimmerman: "I always thought there should be a park out there. Like Hannibal has along the Mississippi."
From Lois Chronister: "Let the benefactors' money develop this land. It is no money out of our pockets. They will learn soon enough with the next big flood why taxpayers did not want money invested in it."
From David Wallace: "(Union Pacific) needs to get on board with our community development. Help us improve our community and not just use us as a pass-through. Put back some money into our city after all these years. I was involved with the Transformation program with the focus of a marina associated with the island development. There may not be enough space for a full-blown marina, but I feel that a docking facility incorporated with the development would actually bring some river traffic into Jeff City. I've seen people gather on the sand bar just down from the Marion Access and know that there are big gatherings on the sand bar at the confluence of the Missouri and Osage rivers. There are also docking, gas and food services at the Cooper's Landing near Columbia. And if there was an access point on the south side of the river on the island, we'd see boat traffic stop here. Right now the old Tom Sawyer Excursion Boat is sitting on shore at the Lake just rusting away looking for a home. Wouldn't it be great to have that available on our riverfront for tourists to enjoy? The possibilities are limitless. I feel that the development of the island would be a benefit to the community and to the residents of our city. Let's stop talking about it and do it. Make the commitment, and let's not let this opportunity slip through our hands like riverboat gambling did."
From Larry T. Gerling: "Would a ferry from the north side to Adrian's landing work?"
From Stanley Strope: "In Springfield, Missouri, there is a pedestrian bridge across multiple railroad tracks. It is really quite interesting to stand on the bridge with trains passing beneath your feet. Most kids are wowed by trains as they pass by. Imagine the excitement of having the engine or engines followed by dozens and dozens of cars just a few feet below you. The clearance between the bridge beams and the tops of the railroad cars is likely much more than it seems. As the train approaches, one gets the eerie feeling that the train will never fit beneath the bridge ... one gets antsy anticipating that the train is going to clobber the underside of the bridge."