Bill filed to rename Jay Nixon State Park- "Parks should honor someone of historical significance"

(From Senators Gary Romine and Paul Fitzwater)

Sen. Gary Romine (R-Ste Genevieve) and Rep. Paul Fitzwater (R-Potosi) are announcing they filed legislation on Thursday renaming the newly formed “Jay Nixon State Park” the “Proffitt Mountain State Park” in honor of one of the earliest pioneers to settle on the land around the mountain in Reynolds County.


“Jay Nixon used the money from the ASARCO settlement as a slush fund to purchase lands for state parks outside of the lead belt, then turned around and named a park after himself on his way out the door,” Fitzwater said. “This is highly offensive to the people of Reynolds and Iron counties. A park should be named to honor someone of historical significance and ties to the area. Our bills will correct this wrong.”


Romine said naming a park after yourself is the height of narcissism.

“This is tantamount to a slap in the face of my constituents,” Romine said. “Nixon must think pretty highly of himself to think he could get by with naming a park after himself after he misused the funds meant for remediation and restoration of the lead belt area. It’s a double whammy.”