#2
Illinois’ Recreational Playground Springfield is home to extraordinary natural resources and outdoor activities, often overlooked by visitors who come for the community’s historical and cultural amenities. Becoming a destination for recreation means looking at the rich resources we have and building on them.
Reactivate Lake Springfield Beach House Area The Lake Springfield Beach House area has been under-utilized since 2009. Numerous suggestions to reopen lake area treasures poured in through The Next 10, with a multitude of suggestions about how to reactivate them, including: • Increased recreational activities and amenities at the lake, beach and Beach House
Expand Programming And Activity On The Sangamon River The Sangamon River is a precious and unique resource for the community. Education, conservation and recreational activities are supported by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, among others, in an effort to ensure the waters remain healthy and usable. The Next 10 revealed residents’ love and respect for the river, and a desire to see it more broadly activated with more access points, canoeing, kayaking and other recreational activities.
• Provision of recreational rentals for use on the lake and beach
Promising Ideas
• Repurposing of the Beach House to a full-service restaurant/event venue
» Improvements to/addition of sidewalks and bicycle lanes
• Development of additional amenities adjacent to the beach house • Improved trail access and connections to all amenities in the area, including the Henson Robinson Zoo and Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center
» Connection of bike trails » Establishing the Greater Springfield Area as a hub of ADA accessible recreation » Creation of indoor and outdoor sports facilities with flexible amenities to position Springfield as a sports tourism destination
© 2021 THE NEXT 10
14
