Park A Day: Louisiana Purchase State Park

Park A Day is back! Today's park is the Louisiana Purchase State Park, which really isn't much of a "park." It is more of a nice stroll. I visited this park by myself, which I wouldn't recommend. Upon driving in, you're greeted with a sign that says that the gates automatically close at 9:00 p.m. so you better be gone, and that no ranger is on patrol. You can, however, call a number if you need help. Doesn't sound as inviting as some of our parks.

The park is actually a swamp, and is one of Arkansas's only headwater cypress swamps. The signs along the way tell you how that is different from a typical Arkansas swamp, and signs point out wildlife you might see (including alligators). They also, of course, tell you about the history of the Louisiana Purchase.

In 1803, the United States agreed to pay France $15 million for a large chunk of land that would become Arkansas and 12 other states. The land had never been officially surveyed. Nobody thought it was worth much. Two survey teams were sent out by the president, and the crossing of the lines they surveyed became the “initial point” from which subsequent surveys of Louisiana Purchase lands originated. That is where the monument in the Louisiana Purchase State Park sits.

It's located in Brinkley and the trail to the monument is pretty short (Google Map).

Clicking the title link will take you to some photographs of the park.

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