The Park at New Melle Lakes officially opened to the public on Saturday, Sept. 29th, with a large turnout of people coming to check out what the park has to offer. The 153-acre former golf course property connects to other adjacent properties owned by the County, to form a 400+ acre park.

Existing amenities include an 18-hole disc golf course, 4 miles of paved surface trails, broken into 4 routes with distances ranging from .6 to 1.4 miles each, a beautiful 25 acre lake and smaller ponds for catch and release fishing, plus several picnic tables for guests to use on a first come, first serve basis.

“When this park is fully developed, it is going to be one of our premier parks,” said County Executive Steve Ehlmann.

Future plans call for a launch area for non-motorized boats, multi-acre dog park, playground, small and large picnic shelters, camping, restrooms, and renovation of a home on the property for a rental facility.

People who attended the opening celebration had the opportunitty to win prizes, participate in a survey about future development of the park, try their hand at kayaking on the big lake, enjoy fishing in the lake and ponds, and play disc golf.

The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 1/2 hour past dusk. St. Charles County now has 15 public parks open and a total of 3,643 acres of park land either open or scheduled for future development. For more information visit www.stccparks.org.

Julie and Nick Vertodoulos of New Melle, kayaking.

Tim Shinabery of New Melle (Right) and
Julie and Nick Vertodoulos of New Melle - Kayaking.

Virginia, Bailey, Gary and Debbie Polkinghorne of O’Fallon playing disc golf.

Bill Mahler of New Melle fishing in the lake.

Bill Mesey of O'Fallon, fishing one of the ponds. Mesey said he had
fished at the property 35 years ago when it was privately owned.

People who attended the grand opening enjoyed free
refreshments and registered for attendance prizes.