Flooding a concern for new Jefferson City riverfront park

It’s possible that Jefferson City will only develop a fraction of land planned for a new park because of its history of floods.

Last week the Jefferson City Council accepted a multimillion dollar donation for a bridge that will connect the veteran’s memorial outside the state capitol with an oddly named slice of land called Adrian’s Island.

The “island” sits between the Union Pacific railroad tracks and the Missouri river, and the city plans to develop the area into a park. As of now, the bridge will be the only way on or off the 30-acre plot of land. To see a map of Adrian’s Island, click here.

Overall, the Jefferson City Parks & Recreation Commission was excited about developing the park during their discussion at their Tuesday meeting.

“From a park perspective, I absolutely love it,” said commission member Bill Plank.

Plank said the land will inevitably flood, which it has done five times since 2000.

The worst flood recorded during that time was in late 2015, which left only 13 of the 30 acres of the land above water. Plank said the commission will primarily put bathrooms, benches and other additions inside that 13-acre area to avoid flood damage.

“(Those items) are made to withstand floods,” said Todd Spalding, Jefferson City’s director of parks, recreation and forestry. “So (floods are) not going to necessarily wipe out those things, we don’t think.”

Plank says the unavoidable flooding could actually attract tourists.

“People like to see the power of the river, it is a very natural draw,” Plank said.

Development plans will be made as designs for the connecting bridge are put together, which is expected to advance by the end of the year. Spalding and Plank said development of the park should happen as the bridge is constructed.

Editor’s Note: This article has been edited to reflect that the land known as ‘Adrian’s Island’ has flooded five times since 2000.