When it comes to public lands, poll after poll shows that most Americans support national parks and other public lands. In Missouri last week, that love of public lands was put to the test. Voters went to the polls to decide whether to approve the state’s 0.1% sales tax that funds parks. The measure passed with overwhelming support, securing the future of major new outdoor recreation projects.
The Tax and the Vote
First established in 1984, the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax is a 0.1% sales tax that funds state parks and historic sites, as well as soil and water conservation. It goes before voters every 10 years for reapproval, and it was on the ballot again this August. It passed with 82% of voters in favor and in every county in the state.
The $168 million collected from the tax funds approximately 75% of the Missouri State Parks system’s annual $68 million budget. The system includes 57 state parks and 36 historic sites, all of which are free to visit. Missouri is one of only eight states that do not charge day-use fees for its parks.
The New Parks
With future funding secured, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) can move forward with two long-awaited projects. Eleven Point State Park, located in the Ozark Mountains in southern Missouri, contains 4,167 acres, including 6 miles on the shore of the Eleven Point River, a nationally protected river corridor.
The other park, Shepherd of the Hills, spans 1,011 acres and lies less than 10 miles from tourist hotspot Branson, Mo. The terrain here is full of grassy, flower-filled meadows and rolling hills.
Both of these parks were first announced in 2016, but have been stuck in development and closed to the public for the last decade. In a press release, MDNR announced that it will use the funds from the tax to finally open the parks. It will also devote $15 million in funds to improve structures and campgrounds in existing parks.
Why It Matters
The state park system attracted 19.1 million visitors last year, 91% of whom were Missouri residents. Since they are free, state parks are an accessible, affordable way for folks to get outside and be active.
Missouri’s state parks are also a major economic engine. A 2026 study from the MDNR showed that economic activity from the parks contributed $768 million to the state’s GDP in 2025. The system also supported over 10,000 jobs, which produced labor income of $455 million.
“We are very honored Missouri voters demonstrated their confidence in the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to protect their state parks, historic sites, water quality, and soil resources,” MDNR Director Kurt Schaefer said in a press release.
“Now that we have the assurance to move forward to completion, we are setting our sights forward to the next 10 years. Our vision is a future where Missouri’s natural and cultural resources only continue to improve over the next decade, thanks to the passage of the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax.”
