kids encyclopedia robot

Jones-Confluence Point State Park facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Confluence Point State Park
Mississippi Missouri confluence point.jpg
Confluence Point with the Mississippi on the left and the Missouri on the right
Confluence Point State Park is located in Missouri
Confluence Point State Park
Confluence Point State Park
Location in Missouri
Confluence Point State Park is located in the United States
Confluence Point State Park
Confluence Point State Park
Location in the United States
Location West Alton, St. Charles, Missouri, United States
Area 1,121.43 acres (4.5383 km2)
Established 2001
Governing body Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Website Jones-Confluence Point State Park

The Edward "Ted" and Pat Jones-Confluence Point State Park is a fun public park in St. Charles County, Missouri. It's a special place where two very big rivers meet: the Missouri River and the Mississippi River. This park covers about 1,121 acres of land along the riverbanks.

The park is managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. They want to make the area look like it did a long time ago. Imagine how it looked when famous explorers Lewis and Clark saw it! This park is also part of the larger Mississippi Greenway. Soon, its trails will connect to the statewide Katy Trail, which is great for biking and walking.

History of the Park

1993-flood1
The park's monument to the Great Flood of 1993. The water reached the top of this pole during the flood. The Mississippi is on the left and Missouri on the right.

This spot is very important in American history. The famous Lewis and Clark Expedition started right here in 1804. These explorers set off from this point to explore the western parts of the United States. They also returned to this same spot when their long journey was over.

The land for the park was bought with help from a group called the Danforth Foundation. In 2001, the Western Rivers Conservancy gave the land to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The park officially opened on May 9, 2004. It is named after Edward D. "Ted" Jones and his wife Pat Jones. They were very generous and donated $2.2 million to help develop the Katy Trail.

Things to Do at the Park

This park is a great place to visit! You can enjoy short walking trails and read interesting signs that tell you about the area. It's also a fantastic spot for birdwatching. Many different kinds of birds can be seen here, especially near the rivers.

kids search engine
Jones-Confluence Point State Park Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.