Katy Trail State Park Improvements Continue Thanks to Edward “Ted” and Pat Jones

Edward “Ted” and Pat Jones are still making sure the parks they loved are cared for years after their deaths. Because they had no children, they often said they “adopted” the state of Missouri.

“With gifts of money and land, Ted and Pat Jones provided a legacy that becomes more significant as time passes,” said Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Dru Buntin. Thanks to Ted and Pat, Missouri now has a nature preserve, a vast native prairie, a state park at the confluence point of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and the famous Katy Trail State Park.

Not only was Ted Jones responsible for the building of the Katy Trail, he was also the driving force in building Edward Jones Investments. Now, thanks to a final gift from a trust created more than 30 years ago by Ted, Missouri will have a new bridge connecting the Pleasant Hill Trailhead to the Katy Trail.

In April, more than 60 Edward Jones employees and volunteers joined Missouri State Parks team members on the Katy Trail near Pleasant Hill, Missouri, where they planted 33 trees in honor of the 33rd anniversary of the Katy Trail State Park. Following the tree planting, the design phase and development plan for construction of the new Ted and Pat Jones Bridge was revealed.

Upon final approval from Union Pacific Railroad, the new bridge will span the current, active railroad tracks and provide direct access to the Rock Island Spur of the Katy Trail from the trailhead, replacing the current required road detour.

“The Jones’ legacy continues to live on through their contributions to Missouri State Parks,” said David Kelly, director of Missouri State Parks. “Ted and Pat Jones had a vision for a cross-state trail that would connect the two major metro areas of Missouri. As a final gift, the Ted Jones Trust is funding this new trail bridge at Pleasant Hill.”

“The Katy Trail represented much more than a recreational trail to Ted Jones,” said Dan Burkhardt, a spokesperson for the Jones Trust. “It was a way to showcase the best of Missouri and bring visitors to the historic communities along the route of the old Katy Railroad. Ted Jones wanted to turn the trail into a teaching trail as well as a tourist destination. People now come from around the world to see the part of the country the Ted and Pat called home.”

This new bridge will get bring the Katy Trail one step closer to connecting with Jackson County’s portion of the Rock Island Trail in Kansas City.

“The new Ted and Pat Jones Bridge at Pleasant Hill will be one of the final links to the cross-state trail system that attracts visitors worldwide,” Kelly said. “Ted Jones, who was managing partner for Edward Jones, left a legacy for our parks. We appreciate Ted and Pat and their love for nature and the park system. Without Ted’s drive and enthusiasm, the Katy Trail State Park would not be what it is today. We also appreciate all the Edward Jones employees, families and volunteers who helped with the tree planting.”

For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

MDC Honors Former Commissioner With Land at Peck Ranch Conservation Area

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) honored former Commissioner Don Bedell during a dedication ceremony Tuesday, April 4 for the Don C. Bedell Unit of Peck Ranch Conservation Area. Bedell, an avid conservationist and enthusiastic sportsman, served on the Missouri Conservation Commission through 2021 after serving two six-year terms. He is a life sponsor of Ducks Unlimited, a life member of Quail Unlimited, Inc., a sustaining member of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, a Diamond sponsor of the National Wild Turkey Federation, and a life member of the Safari Club.

During his time serving on the Conservation Commission, Bedell saw MDC accomplish numerous feats, including the historic restoration of once-native elk at the Peck Ranch Conservation Area in the Missouri Ozarks. On Tuesday, MDC recognized this connection by designating nearly 6,000 acres of newly conserved forestland as the “Don C. Bedell Unit” of Peck Ranch Conservation Area.

“Don Bedell will have a lasting impact in conservation, not only for his long tenure on the Conservation Commission, but for his vital role in recognizing how important partnerships are to moving conservation forward,” said MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley. “To be able to name this track of land after him in the Ozarks, especially a place so close to the elk herd he helped bring back to Missouri, really makes this a special moment and milestone.”

The 5,805-acre property, formerly known as Chilton Creek Research and Demonstration Area, contains some of the most biologically important woodland habitat in the Midwest and is surrounded by Peck Ranch Conservation Area, Rocky Creek Conservation Area, and Ozark National Scenic Riverway. The land was originally acquired by the Nature Conservancy (TNC) in 1991 in order to protect some of the most biologically important woodland habitat in the Midwest. Since that time, TNC has performed extensive management to restore and enhance high quality forest and woodland natural communities, and has collaboratively developed the Chilton Creek Fire Study to help research the benefits and impacts of prescribed fire in Ozark forest systems.

As a complementary effort to the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MOFEP), MDC will continue to employ management practices to ensure healthy and sustainable natural resources on the property, such as using prescribed fire to enhance forest health and diversity.

MDC purchased the property using $4,000,000 from the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program in October. The tract of land is adjacent to 2.5 miles of the Current River, the most biologically significant river in the Midwest and one of Missouri’s most popular outdoor recreation streams. The property supports unusual species, such as the two-foot long Ozark hellbender (federally endangered), and is in the center of Missouri’s 220,000-acre elk restoration zone. With more than 830 plant species having been documented on the property and numerous fens, springs, and glades, some of Missouri’s highest quality woodlands can be found on the newly-designated Don C. Bedell Unit.

“Our nation’s forests provide immeasurable social, economic, and environmental benefits that are lost when forestland is converted to non-forest uses. The Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program directly supports our partners in pursuing mutual forest conservation objectives for the benefit of future generations,” said Gina Owens, Regional Forester for the USDA Forest Service’s Eastern Region.

The Don C. Bedell Unit will be open to the public and managed by MDC for multiple uses under certification through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

The Forest Legacy Program is administered by the USDA Forest Service in partnership with designated state agencies to encourage the protection of privately-owned forest lands through conservation easements or land purchases.