2 Illinois’ Recreational Playground

#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 • Provision of recreational rentals for use on the lake and beach • Repurposing of the Beach House to a full-service restaurant/event venue • 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

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.

Promising Ideas

» Improvements to/addition of sidewalks and bicycle lanes » 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

Recreation activities in Central Illinois are abundant. Boasting beautiful parks and trails, serene water features, top notch youth sports opportunities, hunting and fishing destinations and so much more, there is truly something for everyone. We look forward to growing these activities and showcasing them to the world.”

DEREK HARMS

Executive Director, Springfield Park District

DID YOU KNOW?

Lake Springfield is a 4,200-acre man-made reservoir owned by City of Springfield’s City Water, Light and Power (CWLP), the largest municipally owned utility in Illinois. The lake is used primarily as a source for drinking water for the City of Springfield. It attracts some 600,000 visitors annually and its 57 miles of shoreline is home to

over 700 lakeside residences and eight public parks.

The Sangamon River is 246 miles long, and the principle tributary of the Illinois River which connects Springfield to Peoria. The river is associated with the early career of Lincoln (who once lived on the banks) and played an important role in the early European settlement of Illinois.

The Springfield Park District, formed in 1900, was the second park district created in the state of Illinois. The District cares for 2,500 acres of parkland, 322 acres of Nature Preserve, 35 parks, 23 miles of bike trails, and four golf courses, and serves over 140,000 people.