A second park in Taney County has closed due to issues involving trash and other illegal activities.

On July 1st of this year, the Missouri Department of Conservation had closed down the camping site at the Drury-Mincy Conservation. A release from the MDC plus an interview with Taney County Agent Chris Boyd during KRZK's "Ozarks Now" program in July the issues of misuse at that site including campers staying longer than allowed and leaving the sites trashed. 

The latest area to be impacted is the nearby Historic Springfield Harrison Roadside Park. Taney County Sheriff Brad Daniels tells Ozarks First that it was a decision made by the property owner, who had contacted the sheriff's office to assist with clearing the area of homeless people who had been trying to camp there. Daniels added that he felt that some of the campers that had previously been staying in the Drury Mincy area may have tried to relocate there. 

The Park, which has been owned by the Jackson family for over 100 years, was officially dedicated as a park in 2023 after work by several groups including The Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters developed a trail which lead to the Murder Rocks, made famous by Alf Bolin who used the rocks to surprise travelers along the road and murder them during the Civil War. 

According to the Ozarks First Story, current owner Russell Jackson says the closure will not be permanent, but will give him time to but some barriers and signs up to prevent the illegal camping.

The full story on the Historic Springfield Harrison Roadside Park closure can be found on the Ozarks First Website.

(Information from Ozarks First Reporter Jesse Inman and The Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters Website was used for this story)