Sunday afternoon I decided to go on an expedition to explore the site of the former Lakeside Park, which is now only accessibly by river. It’s hidden back in the woods, completely overgrown with only a few remnants of what used to be “the” place to be in Joplin.

This place has always fascinated me and I like to walk around and imagine what it was like back in the day. Sometime I should take copies of the old postcards and try to take photos from the exact same angles… another day I suppose.

-click for larger image-As you can see, the river is nice and clear today with lots of nice ‘rapids’.

-click for larger image-The fall colors also made this a particularly enjoyable float.

-click for larger image-Here I am approaching the site. People used to ride the trolley to get here, which I think is cool.

-click for larger image-Here is an old wall. I can imagine a group of dudes a hundred+ years ago sitting here scoping out the ladies.

Here is an old post card. This is cool because at least part of all 3 structures are still around today. The arched bridge, the supports for the bath house, and parts of the dam.

-click for larger image-The only large remaining structure of the park, a long arching bridge that crosses Center Creek and continues deep into the woods, probably at least half a dozen arched sections, if not more.

-click for larger image-Time has not been so kind to the west side of the bridge.

-click for larger image-The river was so nice today! This is looking from the top of the bridge downstream toward my house.

-click for larger image-This is where I was standing when I took the previous pic.

This bridge is long gone but the support posts are still around – however I didn’t get a pic.

This used to be the low dam that held back the small “lake”. People would walk across here and get their feet wet. I have concluded that the roller coaster was located to the southeast of the dam – so it would be in this photo if still standing.

Another random old wall further downstream. I think it’s cool to imagine the people constructing this wall around the turn of the previous century. For decades this place was full of people and good times. Now there is only the sound of the river and the birds.

I have recently discovered something about my state that I like a lot. It appears I have taken the access to river ways for granted. Apparently residents of other states, such as Kansas, who enjoy floating do not have the same opportunities as we do in the Show-Me State.

Generally speaking I think Kansas is a fine state, but I am going to pick on it here just because I have been enlightened on their issues and did a bit of research to confirm what I heard. Turns out that Missouri and Kansas regulations are similar on paper… both say that if a waterway is navigable then it’s public property. The difference is that MO uses this to provide public access, and KS uses it to restrict it. In Missouri, if it is physically possible to float it then chances are you have the right to do it. Kansas has determined that only 3 rivers in the entire state are ‘navigable’ and they are the barge sized mega-rivers that I can’t imagine anyone wanting to float in. Apparently, several rivers that are routinely floated further upstream in Missouri, such as nearby Spring River or Shoal Creek have been officially designated as ‘off-limits’ in Kansas.

The act of floating in Kansas isn’t actually illegal and it’s not to say that people can’t and don’t ever float in Kansas…but it is trespassing since the state lets private individuals have total ownership of their section of the river. Additionally, landowners can, and do construct various obstacles, barriers, barbed wire fences, dams, or whatever else they feel like. Personally I think this is a terrible and selfish approach and will lead to damaged and impaired rivers that are sorely under appreciated and largely unknown to the public. I know I didn’t fully appreciate area rivers until I started experiencing them and realizing how great they actually are.

Anyways… I am glad Missouri recognizes that rivers are bigger than any one person’s property and does not allow an individual to claim ownership of it. I am glad we Missourians have the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the state’s rivers, large and small.