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Contact: Dena Matteson, (573) 323-4814
VAN BUREN, Mo - Join us for National Public Lands Day on September 28 at 10 a.m. at Big Spring to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Missouri’s first state parks and the first public recreation lands in the Current River watershed. Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) invites volunteers to help plant 100 native trees in the Big Spring area, followed by musical entertainment and volunteer appreciation courtesy of the Ozark Riverways Foundation.
In 1924, Missouri sportsmen bought the crown jewels of the Current River watershed. The sale of fishing and hunting licenses funded the Missouri Fish and Game Department, which used that revenue to purchase Big Spring on October 17, 1924. Big Spring became Missouri’s first state park and the first public recreational lands in the Current River watershed. By the end of 1924, Round Spring and Alley Spring were also purchased for state parks.
In 1937, Missouri created the State Park Board to provide stewardship of exceptional recreational and historic places and created the Department of Conservation to oversee public lands best suited for hunting and forest management. Thus, Big Spring, Round Spring, and Alley Spring were moved from Fish and Game to the State Park Board.
In 1969, these three springs and their facilities became part of ONSR which was established in 1964 as a unit of the National Park Service, giving them recognition as the national treasures that they are.
The 100-year anniversary tree planting event at Big Spring will recognize the foresight of our ancestors to set aside public lands for enjoyment. By planting 100 native wildlife-friendly trees near campsites and picnic areas, volunteers can enhance the Big Spring area for future generations.
In all, 400 trees will be planted at ONSR in the fall of 2024, with 100 trees also planted at Round Spring and Alley Spring in recognition of their status among the earliest state parks and public lands along the Current River.
To participate, please wear sturdy footwear, bring work gloves, water, insect repellent and sunscreen. ONSR will dig holes prior to the event and have trees placed nearby. Shovels and supplies for planting will be provided.
The project is expected to conclude around noon. In appreciation for your help, volunteers will receive a coupon for free one-day entrance into a federal recreation site, an ONSR Volunteer t-shirt, and free copies of vintage postcards featuring the state parks. The Ozark Riverways Foundation will provide free lunch and musical entertainment for volunteers at the Big Spring pavilion.
Representatives from the National Park Service, Missouri State Parks, the Missouri Department of Conservation, Ozark Chinquapin Foundation, and other watershed partners will kick off the event by planting a Flowering Dogwood, the Missouri state tree, near Big Spring.
Big Spring is located three miles south of Van Buren on State Highway 103. For more information on the event contact (573) 323-4236, visit the park’s Facebook page, or website at www.nps.gov/ozar.
-NPS-
Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves 134 miles of the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people. Learn more at www.nps.gov/ozar. Find us on Facebook @ozarkriverways and on Instagram @ozarkriverwaysnps.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Last updated: September 7, 2024