Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – While the Village of Grandview is using a state Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grant to build a sports park, City Water, Light, and Power is planning on much the same thing with the same grant money it received through the same program.

According to a news release from CWLP, it was one of three $600,000 grant recipients in Sangamon County, and plans are in the works to improve Lake Springfield’s Center Park.  The utility is planning on:

  • New pickleball courts
  • A “modern playground with high-quality safety surfacing”
  • “…a new walking path designed to connect Center Park amenities with the Lake Springfield Beach House, picnic areas, shoreline, and the Sailboat and Center Park Harbor docks”
  • An improved Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking surface

“Lake Springfield is one of the City’s most important municipal assets, and projects like this help us protect and enhance that value for the long term,” said Doug Brown, Chief Utilities Engineer, in the news release. “By investing in public access, recreation, and safety improvements at Center Park, we’re reinforcing the lake’s role as both a reliable water supply and a shared community resource. These upgrades help ensure Lake Springfield continues to serve residents today while remaining sustainable and accessible for future generations.”

CWLP says a project timeline and other details will be announced when design and planning are done.