Johnson's Shut-Ins closes Monday

Thursday, August 21, 2008 7:58 AM CDT

Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park will close Monday so redevelopment of the park can continue. The last day for swimming will be Sunday.

The department temporarily opened the shut-ins area of the park June 26 so the public could once again swim at the park this summer.

The rest of the park remained closed so construction could continue in those areas on a limited basis.

"Now that we have worked out an arrangement with Ameren and its contractor, MACTEC, to rebuild the park, we are looking forward to an aggressive schedule of redevelopment at the park," said Doyle Childers, department director.

The arrangement with Ameren and MACTEC now includes a fixed price contract, which ensures that the company can rebuild the park within the budget outlined in the Taum Sauk settlement agreement. MACTEC will build the park within the design already approved by the department, and the park will be redeveloped in time for opening sometime in 2009. Under this new arrangement, MACTEC will be using subcontractors for many of the projects, which will provide many opportunities for local and statewide contractors to bid on contracts.

Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park is located eight miles north of Lesterville on Highway N in Reynolds County.

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