Jensen’s Point lookout along Route 66 near Pacific, Missouri, is slated to reopen in February.
The site’s readiness for visitors took a big step last weekend after three dozen volunteers — mostly from the Ozark Trails Association — cleared brush, trimmed branches and removed trash from along the steps and slope to the lookout area.
As part of the city’s purchase of Jensen’s Point using a St. Louis County Parks grant, the association pledged 250 volunteer hours to help it keep up. Saturday’s efforts were part of that.
Volunteers by day’s end produced a brush pile that was “50 to 60 yards long on one side of the road and 30 to 40 on the other,” said Matt Atnip of the association.
Jensen’s Point was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and opened in 1941. The landmark was named after Lars Peter Jensen, first manager of Shaw’s Garden, aka Missouri Botanical Garden. Jensen also was president of the Henry Shaw Gardenway Association to beautify Route 66 in that region.
Wayne Winchester, owner of Wintec Pharmaceuticals, bought the property in the early 1990s. He fenced it to keep vandals and transients at bay.
The image above is the view from Jensen’s Point.
(Images of the cleanup courtesy of Matt Atnip, Kip Welborn and Emily Priddy)
Well done, volunteers!