SPANISH LAKE, MO (KMOX) - St. Louis Zoo's WildCare Park in North St. Louis County is slated to open next year. County planners are looking at ways to capitalize on the development.
The 425-acre safari park and conservation center sits north of Interstate 270 at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. It's adjacent to the historic community of Spanish Lake.
Joel Hensley, principal planner with the St. Louis County Planning Department says the area has great assets, including Spanish Lake Park, that the county could leverage. "It's a beautiful location and there's two lakes out there. So we're talking recreation, fishing and hiking. How can we get people out and utilize that more?"
Hensley says as a planner he could propose many grand plans, but is cognizant of the need to plan using existing resources.
He says the Spanish Lake Neighborhood Association will be a core partner because, "this has to be something that is community first. Because if the community is not involved, they're not bought into the process, it's going to make it a hundred times harder."
Hensley says he's like to tap into his experience working in Tulsa, the location of BMX Headquarters. He says North County might be a good fit for BMX Racing for events and educational experiences.
