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Grab A Paddle Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

TeamBMZ (bmzdaddy): Well sadly I do not think I can keep this one in play. I replaced the container and waited a couple of weeks. Sure enough when I went to check it again...gone. With the county allowing paddle board and kayak rentals on such a small body of water, there's just no way to keep this one hidden well enough. I do have another idea but it will be spring before I can try it out. If the spot is still open I will try a whole new approach to make it hidden and snag proof for the fishermen. Thanks to all who enjoyed this one.

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Hidden : 10/6/2013
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This cache will take you to Simpson Lake in Valley Park.  Simpson Lake is a 72 acre lake with plenty of fishing and boating.  Electric motors or paddles only.  Park hours are 8 AM to ½ hour past official sunset.

FTF Honors go to.....Herbiekid! Congrats!

This is a water borne cache.  Unless you can walk on water you will need some sort of boat to access this one.  The cache itself is a larger camo'd pill bottle located on the only logical choice for this area of the lake.  It is short tied to prevent it from falling in the water, so vessels setting low in the water will have the advantage.  Please make sure you put the log back in the bag and lid is on secure.

ABOUT THE PARK...

St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Department purchased the original 148 acres in 1976.

Thirty-four additional acres of the park was acquired in two later purchases. In 1977, 33 acres were acquired from the Simpson Company. Another acquisition was completed in 1981 with the purchase of a one-acre lot from a private owner. Additional acquisitions of 16 acres have been made through Bond Issue funds and Federal Emergency Management Agency supported purchases of properties along the Meramec River.

The existing lake was created through a combined damming/dredging operation. A dam was constructed to impound water from Grand Glaze Creek. This allowed Simpson Sand and Gravel to float a dredge barge to dredge sand and gravel. This process in turn enlarged the lake. The lake has been used in the past a paid fishing lake and the land between the lake and Marshall Road was used as a golf driving range. Both of these activities ceased functioning prior to acquisition of the property by the County. The land south of Marshall Road has been used as a construction landfill. Over a period of 30 years, a minimum of 10 to 12 feet of fill was added with a cap of 1-2 feet of soil placed over the fill by the Simpson Company.

The park was dedicated on July 6, 1991.

The Blue Heron Pavilion was completed in June of 1994 with funds from the 1986 Bond Issue and was designed to withstand flooding.

In 1996 Taco Bell donated funds for the installation of a soccer field and parking lot and a handicapped accessible fishing dock to be located in the main section of the park near the Blue Heron Shelter.

Two L&WCF grants were received in 1992 and 1995 respectively for the construction of the asphalt lake shore trail in the park north of Marshall Road and the Meramec River Greenway Trail that
extended the lake shore trail from the restrooms south across Marshall Road and east along the Meramec River to Greentree Park in Kirkwood.

Simpson Park is included in the Meramec River Greenway.

The park bears the name of the Simpson Company, which produces meramec sand, gravel and asphalt. The company is located in St. Louis Missouri and donated half of the original acreage for the park in 1976.

 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Lbh pnaabg frr vg hayrff lbh ner urnqvat onpx gb gur obng enzc.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)