Minor Smith Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Minor Smith Park is located in the state of Missouri and is a great place to visit for outdoor recreational activities.


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Summary

The park covers 95 acres of land and features a large lake, walking trails, picnic areas, and playgrounds.

One of the main attractions in the park is the lake which is stocked with fish, making it a popular spot for fishing enthusiasts. Visitors can also rent paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes to explore the lake.

For those who enjoy hiking, the park offers several trails, including a paved walking trail that loops around the lake and a nature trail that winds through the wooded areas of the park.

In addition to outdoor activities, Minor Smith Park also has several picnic areas with tables and grills, making it a great place for a family picnic or a barbecue with friends.

Interesting facts about the park include that it was named after Minor Smith, a local businessman who donated the land for the park. The park also has a historical marker recognizing the site of the first successful airplane flight in Missouri, which took place in 1910.

The best time to visit Minor Smith Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the trees are in full bloom or changing colors. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities for all seasons, including ice fishing and sledding in the winter.

Overall, Minor Smith Park is a great place to visit for outdoor activities, picnics, and historical landmarks.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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