Public invited to hear potential plans for Lake Springfield

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Lake Springfield plan envisions $1B transformation of site

The city of Springfield and City Utilities will host a public meeting 6-8 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Springfield Art Museum to announce recommended options for the redevelopment of the Lake Springfield area.

The reveal follows three public input meetings and other engagements with stakeholder groups, according to the city’s announcement of the meeting.

The plan is projected to be complete by summer 2024 and to include expansion of recreational opportunities as well as adaptive reuse planning for the decommissioned James River Power Station on the site.

The plan is also intended to include hydrological studies and planning for ecological preservation, including water quality, according to city officials. It will also include economic and workforce development opportunities and land use recommendations, as well as transportation, access and wayfinding.

In the city’s announcement of the meeting, Steve Prange, vice president of business development and strategy director for engineering and consulting firm Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Inc., hired by the city to assist with the plan, called the redevelopment a once-in-a-lifetime project that intersects with nature, recreation and economic development.

“We realized early on that we were going to need a very unique team for this project,” he said. “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.”

The master plan is being funded through an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, $100,000 from the Hatch Foundation, $60,000 from City Utilities and $40,000 from the city of Springfield, according to city officials.

Lake Springfield was identified as a redevelopment opportunity area in the city’s Forward SGF comprehensive planning process.