In October 2000 the City of Town & Country purchased this nine-acre tract on the east side of Cedar Valley Lane, just east of Interstate 270 and south of Clayton Road, to be developed into a neighborhood park. The Drace family used the gently rolling site, bordered by trees for years as horse pastures and for their home. The City named the site Drace Park. The property contained a house, several outbuildings and a restored historical log cabin, called the Kropp Log Cabin. The house was later taken down. As with Longview Farm Park, a public planning forum on Drace Park was held in 2001 to gather ideas for the character and activities this park should contain. Most seemed to agree that the pastoral nature of the site should be preserved and wanted the Kropp Log Cabin to be featured. There was also interest in the possibility that a second log cabin, the Estill Log Cabin, may be moved to the park and then restored, emphasizing the history of our City and region through the log cabins and through natural plantings to recreate the look of the nineteenth century countryside. All of which was realized. This is a park for all ages, with opportunities for quiet contemplation as well as places where people can come together to enjoy the park more actively. The park went under construction Fall 2001, so that Drace Park would be ready for residents to enjoy by Spring 2002. The park was officially dedicated in June 2003. Keep your ears and eyes open for public events here such as the Arbor Day offering of free tree seedlings with children enjoying planting projects, plus learning more about the life and times of these log cabins.

Excerpted from statement by Sharon Rothmel