Around 1940, this land was taken from Missouri residents to help with WWII efforts. After the war, the land was sold to the University of Missouri for just $1 as a way of acknowledging the sacrifices of the people who previously lived there and to leave the site as a space that all Missourians could benefit from.
This land is adjacent to the world-famous Katy Trail State Park, a 240 mile hiking and biking trail, as well as two State Conservation Areas that are home to endangered Indiana bats.
The deal to sell this land was negotiated behind closed doors. The public should have a say in what the future looks like for this public land. The University of Missouri System should stop the sale and start a robust public engagement process to determine the future of Weldon Woods.