Park Property

PURPOSE: This rule is established to ensure the care and protection of all natural and manmade resources within state parks and historic sites. (1) Buildings, Signs, and Other Property. No person shall in any manner willfully mark, deface, or injure in any way, or displace, remove, or tamper with any state park or historic site buildings, bridges, tables, benches, fireplaces, railings, paving or paving material, water lines or other public utilities, or parts or appurtenances thereof, park signs, notices or placards whether temporary or permanent, monuments, stakes, posts, or other boundary markers or other structures, equipment or facilities, without written permission from the director. (2) Unauthorized Use or Removal of Park Property. No person shall dig, move, mar, deface, or remove from any state park or historic site area any beach sand, gravel, or minerals, whether submerged or not, or any soil, rock, artifacts, relics, stones, trees, shrubs or plants, down-timber, or other wood materials, or make any excavation by tool, equipment, blasting, or other means or agency, or construct or erect any building or structure of whatever kind whether permanent or temporary in character or run or string any public service utility into, upon or across the lands, without written permission from the director. (3) Climbing on Property. No person shall climb, clamber on, or over any buildings, structures, forts or ruins in any state park, or historic site unless s/he is conducted by the facility manager or his/her authorized representative. (4) Trees, Shrubbery, Lawns, etc. (A) No person shall: 1. Cut, carve, or injure the bark, or break off limbs or branches or mutilate in any way, or pick the flowers of any plant species within any state park or state historic site; 2. Dig in or otherwise disturb or destroy grass areas, or lawns, pile debris or material of any kind on state park or state historic site grounds or attach any rope, wire, or other contrivance thereto; or 3. Plant or remove any vegetation and/or proagules (seeds, roots, etc.), or collect or remove flowers or other plant parts without written permission from the director. (B) Persons may collect wild edible fruit, berries, seeds, and nuts (excluding below-ground plant parts) in a quantity not to exceed a one (1) gallon container for personal consumption within a state park or state historic site. (C) For personal consumption outside a state park or state historic site, persons may collect edible mushrooms by hand in a quantity not to exceed a two (2) gallon container. (5) Caves. Any person desiring to enter a natural cave in any state park or state historic site shall comply with the requirements posted at the cave entrance. If no sign is posted at the cave entrance, then the facility manager or designee must be contacted to determine access requirements. This same person shall check out with the facility manager or his/her representative prior to leaving the park. Overnight camping is not permitted in caves or mines. The following conditions will be met for those caves in which a permit is issued or the permit will be revoked: (A) If under eighteen (18) years of age, have the signature of a parent or guardian or be in the company of a parent or guardian; (B) Be familiar with division rules and agree not to litter, remove, injure, disfigure, deface, or destroy any living organism, object, or portion of the cave; (C) Have three (3) individual sources of light per person; (D) Wear a hard hat; (E) Carry plastic bags for each person for removal of trash and solid human waste and spent carbide; and (F) Carry one (1) first-aid kit per group in the cave with them. (6) Limited Access Areas. Certain areas within state parks and state historic sites possessing unusual natural significance and being vulnerable to damage resulting from public access shall be designated and signed as limited access areas by the director. Entrance to limited access areas shall require the permission of the facility manager. (7) Bridge Load Limits. Certain bridges owned and maintained by the Department of Natural Resources will be posted with load limit and speed limit signs as required to ensure the safety of the motorists and to preserve the integrity of the bridge structures. These limits shall conform to recommendations resulting from engineering studies or Missouri Department of Transportation evaluations. AUTHORITY: section 253.035, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed May 17, 1954, effective May 27, 1954. Amended: Filed Nov. 24, 1959, effective Dec. 3, 1959. Amended: Filed Jan. 16, 1963, effective Jan. 26, 1963. Amended: Filed Dec. 31, 1975, effective Jan. 10, 1976. Amended: Filed Jan. 16, 1978, effective July 13, 1978. Amended: Filed March 25, 1981, effective Aug. 13, 1981. Amended: Filed June 10, 1981, effective Sept. 11, 1981. Amended: Filed Nov. 2, 1983, effective Feb. 11, 1984. Amended: Filed March 18, 1987, effective July 23, 1987. Amended: Filed Oct. 26, 2000, effective June 30, 2001. Amended: Filed June 7, 2018, effective Feb. 28, 2019. *Original authority: 253.035, RSMo 1961, amended 1967, 1983, 1993, 1995.