Kirksville seeks state funds to build access and parking at Rock Lake Conservation Area

The Kirksville City Council voted Aug. 4 to authorize city staff to apply for a Missouri Department of Conservation outdoor recreation infrastructure grant to construct site access and parking improvements at Rock Lake Conservation Area.

Deputy City Manager Rodney Sadler told the council the planning phase funded last year is underway and that the city wants to “get a jump start” on implementation once the parking-lot design is complete. Sadler said the grant would pay up to $120,000 or 75% of the project cost, and that the city’s share would be about $40,000 to be budgeted in parks and recreation for 2026.

The draft planning materials presented to the council include a 10-to-20-space concrete parking area near First Street; Sadler said the exact number of spaces depends on the final layout and how far the lot is located from First Street. “Generally, what was put into that planning process was a 10 to 20 space concrete parking structure,” he said, adding that the Missouri Department of Conservation prefers concrete for parking in this program.

City staff said the grant application was due the week of the meeting and that final park plans, including community feedback gathered in recent engagement sessions, will return to the council for approval before construction. No formal contract or construction authorization was made at the meeting; the resolution authorizes the mayor and city manager to pursue the grant and act as the city’s authorized representatives for the application.

The council approved the resolution by voice vote. The city will commit its matching funds from the parks and recreation budget when the project moves into the phase the grant intends to fund.

The resolution does not fix a final project footprint or timeline; city staff said phases and final design will determine those details and be brought back for council approval.