The Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission is pursuing the purchase of Green Berry Acres, but the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland may not be interested in the commission's offer.
In mid-May, several residents of Green Berry Road told commissioners and staff Green Berry Acres had been put up for sale and they would like to see the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department purchase the land to turn it into a neighborhood park. Later that month, the commission took a vote in closed session on whether to put in a bid on the property, after learning of at least two other bids - one from the Kids in Montessori, or KIM, School.
Because the vote pertained to a real estate transaction, it does not become public until the transaction is complete.
Green Berry Acres, a Girl Scouts property on Green Berry Road, is roughly 4.3 acres and includes a log cabin, a picnic shelter, outdoor grills and a fire circle. The property has been used for hiking, nature activities and service projects.
But the commission's initial bid may have already been rejected. According to an email sent by Bill Lockwood, director of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, an executive committee at Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland appears to have recommended not selling the property to the parks department.
In the email sent to an official of the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland on Wednesday, Lockwood wrote "many community leaders in Jefferson City were very disheartened and confused when they learned of the recommendation coming from your Executive Committee last Thursday regarding the sale of the Green Berry Acres Girl Scout property."
The email notes a unanimous decision by the Parks and Recreation Commission to make an offer on the property, which the department would like to use for expanding summer day camp programs where there are more than 240 children on waiting lists.
Lockwood also wrote "because of the public outpouring" the commission authorized increasing the initial bid on the property, though any information concerning how much the department is offering was redacted from the email.
Attached to the email were copies of 71 emails from community members showing support for the purchase of Green Berry Acres, as well as 12 letters and a petition signed by 41 residents who live near the property. Articles on the history of the property, going back to 1931 when the cabin was dedicated, also were attached.
"We respect the work of your Executive Committee, but on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Commission ask that in light of the information attached and the increased offer to purchase that the recommendation of the Executive Committee not to sell the property to the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation be tabled and that the full Board of Directors evaluate carefully our proposal and the impact which the sale will have on the Jefferson City community and Girl Scouting," Lockwood wrote.
Attempts to reach the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland for comment were unsuccessful.