WILDWOOD — One of the largest stretches of undeveloped woodland left in St. Louis County could be bought, conserved and added to nearby hiking areas under a proposal by local officials and environmentalists.

St. Louis County, Wildwood and the nonprofit Open Space Council of Greater St. Louis are applying for federal funding to help buy about 80 acres of rugged forest and creeks just west of the Rock Hollow Valley nature area.

The effort is still in its early stages, but if it's successful, it would protect a rare stretch of undeveloped woodland in this part of the Meramec River watershed, while opening up new possibilities for hiking and outdoor recreation, backers say.

"This could be a major win for open space expansion and conservation in the region," said Bonnie Harper, executive dir

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