(KTTS News) — The City of Springfield and City Utilities have released some of their recommendations for a $1-billion dollar plan to redevelop the Lake Springfield area.
It includes an entertainment district around the former power plant, expanding the boathouse with a dedicated marina, and an education area showing Native American ties to the land.
The city held its third and final public hearing Thursday night on what to do with land owned by Springfield City Utilities.
It comes after the power plant was decommissioned.
No tax dollars have been set aside for the project.
Press Release
After three public input meetings and numerous engagements with various stakeholder groups, the public will next week have the first opportunity to view the recommended options for the as-of-yet unfunded redevelopment plan for the Lake Springfield area.
The City of Springfield and City Utilities will host the third and final public meeting and open house for the Lake Springfield Plan 6-8 p.m., Thursday Oct. 12 at the Springfield Art Museum.
Lake Springfield was identified as a redevelopment opportunity area during the City’s Forward SGF comprehensive planning process.
The plan, projected to be complete by summer 2024, will be a catalyst for new economic development and recreational opportunities. Components 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.
“We are excited and proud to be part of this once-in-a-generation opportunity to work with our community leaders and agency partners to reimagine where the vision of Lake Springfield intersects with nature, recreation and economic development,” said Steve Prange, vice president of business development and strategy director for Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, the engineering and consulting firm selected as the consultant for the planning project. “We realized early on that we were going to need a very unique team for this project. We assembled a diverse team of planners, engineers, architects, environmental scientists, economists and recreation specialists that will provide a blend of local and national expertise to reimagine the potential for Lake Springfield.”
Engagements
About 300 people turned out for the second public meeting at the Lake Springfield Boathouse May 4. About 100 took advantage of the power plant tours hosted by CU prior to the meeting.
Nearly 100 people turned out for the first Lake SGF Plan meeting Nov. 17, 2022 at the Springfield Art Museum. The meeting included an online survey, which was available for two weeks after the event for those who couldn’t attend. Nearly 150 surveys were completed.
A meeting held exclusively for Lake Springfield-area residents was held Oct. 12, 2022 to fill them in about the project and solicit initial feedback. More than 100 neighbors turned out for that event, which was held at the boathouse.
Additional engagements included a presence at the Chadwick Flyer Trail Showcase and engagements with Springfield-Greene County Parks, the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Springfield Sports Commission, the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, Empower: Abilities and Encompass Academy, Greene County, the River Access Coalition and the Missouri Department of Conservation.
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 is funding 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.
