Forest Information
History of the State Park
Since the 1960's the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation,
and Travel Commission has expressed an interest in developing
a state park adjacent to the Mississippi River. One site considered
was the St. Francis National Forest. Early efforts in the 1960's,
70's, and 80's to establish a state park in eastern Arkansas on
the Mississippi River failed as a result of two problems -- a
lack of funding and difficulty with land acquisition.
In 1991 the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
completed the Mississippi River State Park Site Selection Study,
a study that reviewed eight sites in eastern Arkansas adjacent
to the Mississippi River, including a site in the St. Francis
National Forest. The Arkansas State Parks, Recreation, and Travel
Commission voted to continue studying two of the proposed sites:
the West Memphis site and the St. Francis National Forest site.
The West Memphis site fell out of the running when subsequent
site analysis indicated that the site was unsuitable for a state
park.
The funding problem remained but was resolved
with the 1996 passing of Arkansas Constitutional Amendment 75,
the Conservation Tax. The Conservation Tax levies an additional
excise tax of 1/8 of one percent on all taxable sales of property
and services and on all tangible personal property for the purpose
of providing additional funds to the Arkansas Department of Parks
and Tourism and three other state agencies. The Arkansas Department
of Parks and Tourism receives 45% of the revenue generated by
this tax to be used for park purposes including the development
of new state parks.
Since 1991 personnel from the Arkansas Department
of Parks and Tourism and the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests
have collaborated to explore strategies for the cooperative development
and management of a state park on national forest lands. On February
19, 1999, the St. Francis Planning Team, consisting of members
of both agencies, completed the Mississippi-St. Francis Rivers
Recreation Area Study Proposal. The proposed action of the forthcoming
Mississippi River State Park Environmental Assessment was developed
from recommendations listed in this study.
On May 20, 1999, the Arkansas State Parks Recreation
and Travel Commission passed a motion authorizing the Arkansas
Department of Parks and Tourism to fully cooperate with the Ozark-St.
Francis National Forests to establish a state-managed recreation
area on the St. Francis National Forest.
The Ozark-St. Francis National Forests and the
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism entered into a Memorandum
of Understanding on November 30, 1999, for the "purpose of
preserving, protecting, constructing, and maintaining the St.
Francis National Forest recreation areas as a Mississippi River
State Park for the benefit of Arkansans and the United States."
The Vision
The Arkansas State Parks, Recreation, and Travel
Commission and the St. Francis National Forest recognize the need
to provide a state park on the Mississippi River for tourism,
recreation, and economic reasons.
Both agencies recognize the need to promote tourism
in the State of Arkansas and increase recreation facilities and
services to meet the demands of increasing out-of-state visitation
and in-state population growth. The State of Arkansas has no other
facilities or opportunities for development on the Mississippi
River. The St. Francis National Forest is unique in that part
of it borders the Mississippi River. It is within an hour's commute
from Memphis, which will provide a draw area for recreational
use of the area. The proposal provides a unique opportunity for
the two agencies to serve the public by forging a partnership
to provide modern recreation facilities.
In addition to increased tourism and recreational
facilities, there are economic reasons for considering the proposal.
The delta region has historically been dependent on an agricultural-
based economy. In the last few decades there has been a decrease
in the number of farms and people employed in farming-related
occupations. New businesses and industries starting operations
have not been able to provide the level of employment needed to
offset the loss of farming-related occupations. Both agencies
recognize the need to improve the economic condition of the delta
region of eastern Arkansas. The State of Arkansas has an opportunity
to use funding provided by the 1/8 of one percent tax to improve
and expand recreation facilities for visitors of Arkansas with
the creation of the Mississippi River State Park.
The development of the proposed state park would
be implemented in phases occurring over five or more years. Each
phase is based on a two-year implementation period, although activities
in each of the phases may overlap. Recreation facility construction
and improvements are proposed across the St. Francis National
Forest in several different locations: the Ranger Station Area,
Phillips Bayou, Bear Creek Lake Recreation Area, the Mouth of
the St. Francis, Crowley's Ridge Overlook, Horn Lookout Tower,
and Storm Creek Lake Recreation Area. The preliminary cost estimate
is $12.9 million for the project, an endeavor that will assist
the local economy, increase recreational facilities, and eventually
promote tourism in the delta region.
The Plan
In December 1999 the Forest Supervisor formed
an Interdisciplinary Team charged with the responsibility of completing
the environmental analysis for the proposed Mississippi River
State Park on 400 acres of the St. Francis National Forest.
Public scoping was conducted in December 1999
by mailing letters to seventy-four individuals and organizations
and by publishing a legal notice in the Helena Daily World. The
proposed action was presented to the general public at two open
house forums. The forums were held in Helena, Arkansas, on December
13, 1999, and in Marianna, Arkansas, on December 14, 1999.
There were 29 written responses and 11 oral responses to our request
for comments. Thirty-eight people attended the forum in Helena
and sixty-six people attended the forum in Marianna. The Interdisciplinary
Team reviewed public comments and agency concerns in order to
identify issues and develop alternatives.
Resource specialists such as archaeologists,
biologists, hydrologists, and others are collecting resource data
and conducting effects analyses. The Forest Service coordinated
with other agencies including the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission,
US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Corps of Engineers to address
concerns.
Where are we now?
The Environmental assessment was completed on schedule and the
Forest Service is currently negotiating the special use permit/operation
and maintenance plan documents. Once these are completed the state
park can begin construction. Administrators on the St. Francis
expect that the permit will be signed and architectural designs
completed before summer 2003. Construction is expected to begin
in 2004.
Links
A listing of links to various state and federal
agencies, as well as organizations that are in partnerships or
affiliated with the St. Francis National Forest and Mississippi
State Park Proposal:
Partners for the Proposed Park
![[Photograph/Text]: St. Francis](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081010234326im_/http://www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ozark/common/images/stfrancis.jpg)
![[Image]: OSFNF Logo](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081010234326im_/http://www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ozark/common/images/ozlogo.png)
