Jefferson City temporarily bans camping at Noren River Access

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Jefferson City is temporarily banning camping at the Noren River Access, citing concerns over safety and accessibility.

The Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission voted on the issue Tuesday night. According to an email from JC Parks spokeswoman Ashley Wiskerchen, there have been growing challenges in managing the sites, particularly due to the lack of a 24/7 campground manager. She said the commission felt the temporary closure would allow them to evaluate ways to prevent future incidents.

Wiskirchen said police officers have been called to the Noren River Access area multiple times, though it is unclear if the incidents are directly related to the campgrounds.

"There is the river access, the ramp out there, there are walking trails, there's also a parking lot. Some folks will park there and access other parts of Noren just to walk. So we really don't know if those calls are isolated to campers or campground use," Wiskirchen said.

ABC 17 News reached out to the Jefferson City Police Department for additional information but has not received a response.

The lack of on-site staff has also made it difficult for the city to collect fees and enforce rules. JC Parks previously relied on an honor system, where campers were expected to place their payments in a lockbox.

"We can go out during our regular maintenance runs and kind of count tents," Wiskirchen said. "Someone might count two tents in the morning and two tents in the afternoon. They could be two different campers with different bills in the lock box there. Checking on it frequently does guarantee that we know exactly who is there."

The Noren River Access area will remain open to day visitors, hikers, and people using the boat ramp. No new campers will be accepted over the weekend, and full enforcement of the closure will begin on Monday.

Wiskirchen said the department is working to update its website and will install new signs at the Noren River Access location to communicate the changes.

A camper at the site said he plans to leave by Saturday morning. When asked if he felt unsafe at the campground, he acknowledged that "there is always a risk when sleeping outside," but did not indicate any particular concerns about his stay.

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