News Release 425

ALCOHOL GUIDELINES TAKE EFFECT JULY 26
AT CASTLEWOOD STATE PARK

Volume 36-425

Contact: Sue Holst

(For immediate release)

573-751-6510

JEFFERSON CITY, MO., JULY 22, 2008 -- New guidelines concerning alcohol will be implemented in a portion of Castlewood State Park near Ballwin, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today.

Beginning July 26, alcohol will be prohibited in the area south of the Union Pacific Railroad easement to the Meramec River. In addition, the same area will be designated as a carry-in/carry-out trash zone. The public use areas affected include the river access, main picnic area, the valley portion of the River Scene Trail, the overflow parking area and Lincoln Field. The park shelter areas and main trailhead are not affected by the new regulation.

The new regulation is an effort to make the park more family friendly by reducing unruly behavior in already overcrowded areas and by reducing the amount of trash, especially glass bottles. "This new guideline is intended to provide a safe experience for all our visitors," said Doug Eiken, director of the department's Division of State Parks.  "Recent user surveys suggested that the public feels both safety and the park being free of litter and trash are very important issues."  The new guidelines are similar to other efforts in and along rivers throughout Missouri.

"The Missouri state park system has a very good safety record for our 17 million annual visitors. We want to do everything we can to ensure that visitors continue to have an informed, safe and enjoyable experience," Eiken said.

Castlewood State Park is located at 1401 Kiefer Creek Road in Ballwin. For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, call the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) or visit the Web at www.mostateparks.com.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of upcoming meetings or events in the state park system, visit the online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/parkssearch.do.

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