National Park Service
A Study of the Park and Recreation Problem of the United States 		NPS Logo

MISSOURI

ONE-THIRD OF THE POPULATION of Missouri is concentrated in St. Louis and Kansas City and nearly 40 percent live in the six cities having over 25,000 population. In general, the rural counties show a consistent decrease in population. The Ozark region contains the lowest population density. Approximately 6 percent of the total population is Negro.

The Ozark region, which contains two national forests, several state parks and forests, and a vast area of wooded hills, clear streams, and spectacular springs, constitutes the major recreation area of the State. It is visited by many thousands annually, both from Missouri and other states. However, the recreational possibilities of the Ozarks have hardly been tapped.

The metropolitan populations of St. Louis and Kansas City include a considerable number of residents of adjoining States. In each instance metropolitan park systems including areas both near and at some distance from the cities, as well as integrated systems of parkways and freeways are desirable.

In the rural districts the need is primarily for local areas affording opportunities for people to congregate and enjoy the benefits of social, athletic, and cultural activities which are now lacking.

map
(click on image for an enlargement in a new window)



FEDERAL

National memorial project:
54. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial


Recreational demonstration areas:
14. Montserrat3,438.9
28. Lake of the Ozarks16,037.2
45. Cuivre River5,802
     Total
25,278.1

National forests:
12. Table Rock36,831
21. Pond Fork95,800
29. Gasconade114,243
30. Gardner83,066
38. Fristoe270,213
39. Clark326,790
51. Wappapello115,719
52. St. Francois45,985
     Total
11,088,647

National wildlife areas:
6. Squaw Creek6,742
17. Swan Lake9,181
     Total
15,923

Proposed national parkway:
58. Mississippi River



STATE

State parks:
7. Big Lake100
8. Wallace120200
11. Roaring River2,6901,270
15. Crowder Memorial635525
16. Pershing Memorial1,800360
18. Van Meter506320
23. Bennett Spring572846
31. Montauk754773
33. Mark Twain Memorial1,083200
36. Round Spring77100
37. Alley Spring4271,493
41. Meramec3,422600
44. Big Spring4,4162,034
47. Babler Memorial1,8721,200
49. Washington694
     Total
19,168
9,921

Recommended State parks:
5. Andrew or Holt Counties

9. Platte, Clay, Ray, Jackson, or Lafayette Counties

10. Vernon, Barton, Cedar, or Dade Counties

24. Benton, Morgan, or Camden Counties

26. Schuyler, Scotland, Adair, or Knox Counties

27. Monteau, Cole, Boone, Calloway, or Osage Counties

57. Perry or Cape Girardeau Counties

     Total
7,500

State monuments:
25. Arrow Rock32
46. Fort Zumwalt45
     Total
77

State forests:
35. Indian Trail13,256
42. Meramec3,750
43. Deer Run8,461
50. Sam A. Baker4,423
     Total
29,890

State wildlife areas:
3. Lewis and Clark43
13. Chesapeake117
20. Sequiota15
40. DuPont1,100
48. Rockwoods1,100
59. Big Oak Tree1,100
     Total
3,475

State waysides:
19 areas


Recommended State parkways:
22. Gasconade

32. Ozark



LOCAL

Recommended county parks:
34. Mark Twain Cave—near Hannibal

55. New Madrid, Dunklin, or Pemiscot Counties

56. Stoddard, Scott, or New Madrid Counties

     Total
2,500

Municipal parks:
61. Joplin (3 areas)286
62. Springfield (3 areas)264
63. Kansas City (1 area)20
64. Marshall (1 area)105
65. Brookfield (1 area)38
66. Moberly (2 areas)340
67. Columbia (1 area)30
68. Saint Louis (1 area)67
     Total
1,150

Recommended metropolitan park systems:
1. Joplin

2. Kansas City

4. St. Joseph

19. Springfield

53. St. Louis

1 Area under Federal administration June 1938.


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park-recreation-problem/missouri.htm
Last Updated: 18-May-2016