Councilman John White's Blog

St. Charles County is known for many things—from serving as the starting point for the Lewis and Clark expedition long ago to being one of the fastest growing counties in Missouri today. We also are known for our beautiful historic wine country, and I’d like to share with you the history of how it came to be the flourishing area it is today.

St. Charles County’s 16 parks are treasures cherished by the community. While there were event cancellations and some closures this spring in response to COVID-19, I am impressed with how St. Charles County Parks and Recreation staff worked to keep the parks open and safe while keeping the community engaged. As amenities reopen and programs resume, staff continue to monitor the pandemic and take additional steps to protect visitors.

Last week, the St. Charles County Parks Department closed the lake at Indian Camp Creek Park in Foristell after a citizen reported possible blue-green algae in the water. Preliminary review by Parks staff of water samples indicate it was not blue-green algae; however, the samples were taken to submit to a lab and the lake is closed as a precaution until official results are in.

Situations like this are rare in St. Charles County Parks thanks to proactive efforts taken by the department. After this occurred, I talked with Ryan Graham, Parks Director, about how Parks staff monitor water and other natural resources to keep our 3,643 acres of parkland safe and vibrant. Here’s what I learned: