Editing Rock Hill, Missouri (section)

==Parks, recreation and historical landmarks ==
The recreation program was set in motion in 1971 by mayor Lincoln Wagner.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/140205039/|title=Rock Hill Acts On Committee For Recreation|date=23 April 1971|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}</ref> In June 1972 mayor Jess Stroup created a citizen parks and recreation commission to build a city park.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rock Hill Park Board |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/140236611/?terms=%22Rock%2BHill%2Bpark%22 |access-date=27 October 2019 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=22 June 1972}}</ref> One of the recreation commission's first acts was to create a summer day camp program for children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/140203427/|title=Rock Hill Play Program Ready|date=20 May 1971|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}</ref> By October 1974 the city signed a contract to begin construction of a half-acre park. Dedicated in June 1975, the two-acre park had two tennis courts, two handball courts, two shuffleboard courts and horseshoe pits.<ref name="Recreation">{{Cite book|title=A History of Rock Hill|last=Blann|first=Celeste Wagner|publisher=Celeste Wagner Blann|year=1976|pages=18–19|chapter=Early Personalities}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rock Hill May Turn Quarry Into Park |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/139393630/?terms=%22Rock%2BHill%2Bpark%22 |access-date=27 October 2019 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=3 October 1974}}</ref> In 1976 the city hired Genie Zakrzewski to direct the parks and recreation program.<ref name="Five parks" /> By June 1982, the city had added four more parks:

*Oakhaven Park – Three-acre park on Gilbert & Oakhaven completed in 1977. Two lots for the park were purchased in 1974 and 1975.<ref>{{Cite book|title=A History of Rock Hill|last=Blann|first=Celeste Wagner|publisher=Celeste Wagner Blann|year=1976|pages=18–19|chapter=Recreation}}</ref> Built with four tennis courts, a picnic shelter, horseshoe pits and a playground.<ref name="Five parks">{{cite news |last1=Lisha |first1=Gayle |title=Rock Hill Working On Five-Year Parks Plan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/140736404/?terms=%22Rock%2BHill%2Bpark%22 |access-date=27 October 2019 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=10 June 1982}}</ref>
*Oak Trail Nature Park – Four-acre park at the end of Oakhaven with 2000 feet of trails. Developed in 1979.<ref name="Five parks" />
*Stroup Field – On Old Warson and McKinley. The land for this two-and-a-half-acre park was purchased around 1978. It initially included two softball fields and a soccer/football field.<ref name="Five parks" />
*Greenwood Park – Located between Lithia and Eldridge. Sub-acre park that initially included a basketball court and playground.<ref name="Five parks" />

The five parks cost $325,000 to build, with three quarters of the amount coming from federal and state programs.<ref name="Five parks" />

After the Rock Hill Parks and Recreation building was demolished, the tennis courts at Rock Hill park remained until the park was closed and dismantled in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Rules Tightened On Sewer Lateral Fund In Rock Hill|url=http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/Articles-News-c-2017-02-23-200458.114137-sub-Rules-Tightened-On-Sewer-Lateral-Fund-In-Rock-Hill.html|access-date=13 June 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=24 February 2017}}</ref>

Two additional parks have also been built:<ref>[http://www.rockhillmo.net/ParksDepartment.aspx Rock Hill Parks Department]</ref>
* Hensley Park – Next to Salem Hills
* Whitfield Park – Berry Road & Madison Avenue

Over half of residents had visited a city park in that last year, according to a 2009 survey commissioned by the city. Seventy-six percent of respondents felt the parks needed improvements. Oakhaven Park was the most used, followed by Stroup Field.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Rock Hill Park Dominates Meeting On Survey|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-News-c-2009-02-05-84855.113117-sub-Rock-Hill-Park-Dominates-Meeting-On-Survey.html|access-date=20 May 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=24 December 2009}}</ref>

The Rock Hill Presbyterian Church was built by slaves in 1847 at what is now Manchester and McKnight roads. It was the oldest operating Presbyterian church west of the Mississippi River until 2010 when its congregation left. The United African Presbyterian Church congregation occupied the building until 2011 when the Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery sold the property to a gas station.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Presbyterian Church May Be Razed For Gas Station|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-News-c-2011-06-23-175721.114137-sub-Presbyterian-Church-May-Be-Razed-For-Gas-Station.html|access-date=12 May 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=24 June 2011}}</ref> In July 2011 the Board of Aldermen approved construction under the condition that the gas station owners attempt to rehome the church. In April 2012 Cedar Lake Cellars began moving the church at its own expense to its winery in [[Foristell, Missouri]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Crews Now Dismantling Rock Hill Presbyterian|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-Features-c-2012-04-19-180016.114137-sub-Crews-Now-Dismantling-Rock-Hill-Presbyterian.html|access-date=12 May 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=20 April 2017}}</ref>

Three [[time capsule]]s were buried on the church property between 1845 and 1958. The later two (from 1935 and 1958) were recovered and opened in May. The third, its location having never been recorded, was never found.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jarrett|first1=Linda|title=Time Capsules Give Glimpse Of The Past|url=http://www.timesnewspapers.com/Articles-News-c-2012-05-17-180423.114137-sub-Time-Capsules-Give-Glimpse-Of-The-Past.html|access-date=12 May 2017|work=Webster-Kirkwood Times|date=18 May 2012}}</ref>