The City of Springfield and City Utilities kicked off the process to plan the future of the Lake Springfield area in November with a public event at the Springfield Art Museum. The Lake Springfield Plan is projected to be complete by summer 2024.
The plan will be a catalyst for new economic development and recreational opportunities for the Lake Springfield area, identified as a redevelopment opportunity area during the City’s Forward SGF comprehensive planning process.
Lake SGF Master Plan elements will include:
- recreational expansion opportunities
- adaptive reuse planning for the decommissioned power station
- hydrological studies
- water quality and ecological preservation planning
- economic development and workforce development opportunities
- transportation, access and wayfinding
- land use recommendations.
“The stage is set to create a truly innovative vision for Lake Springfield with water as the key element,” said Senior Planner Oliva Hough, who is managing the project. “One of the main goals for this project is to improve access to this local water amenity while enhancing the natural environment. With CMT and the team Steve Prange has assembled, we now have top-notch experts in place and are ready to begin planning what Lake Springfield could be.”
Background
Through an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), and $200,000 from the Hatch Foundation, City Utilities of Springfield and the City of Springfield’s Environmental Services Department will fund the development of a master plan for the area, including and surrounding the former coal-powered plant (James River Power Station). Redevelopment will complement Lake Springfield Park and Boathouse, which are jointly operated by CU and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board.
Community engagement
A community visioning process for the future of Lake Springfield includes public engagement events, a presentation tour and a city-wide survey.
The community engagement process will outline what the community sees for this area of Lake Springfield. Residents, neighbors, business owners, developers, schools, parks, non-profit agencies and more will collectively take part in identifying the areas of opportunity and concern in the area. This process will help the team zero in on a list of specific goals for the project.
Visit https://lakesgfplan.com/ for updates about the plan and how you can get involved.