Sangchris Lake
Located minutes east of Springfield and its Lincoln attractions, Sangchris Lake serves as a perfect home base for enjoying outdoor activities in central Illinois. Whether you’re interested in fishing, boating, camping, hunting or family gatherings, Sangchris Lake provides an abundance of recreational opportunities amid native forests of oak, maple, butternut and persimmon. dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/Pages/Sangchrislake
Railsplitter State Park
Located near several historical sites in and around the city of Lincoln, the Stephen A. Douglas site, the Postville Courthouse, Lincoln College Museum and the Mount Pulaski Courthouse are but a few of the many sites to visit. stateparks.com/railsplitter_state_park_in_illinois
Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site
About 2 miles South of Petersburg and about 20 miles Northwest of Springfield, New Salem is a reconstruction of the village where Abraham Lincoln spent his early adulthood. lincolnsnewsalem.com
For a complete list on local parks checkout the Springfield Park District site here!
Here are some reader favorites:
Washington Park
On the west side of Springfield this 150-acre site was added to the park district in 1901. This is one of the historic parks, developed as termini of the urban trolley line in use at the time. Designed by Ossian Simonds, noted for his naturalistic style of landscape design, the park is on the National Register of Historic Places. Its design and many features date back to its original development. This park is bounded by South Grand Avenue and the Illini Country Club on the south, Chatham Road on the west, Fayette Avenue and Pasfield Golf Course on the north and Orendorff Parkway on the east. An elegant entrance to the park from the east is formed by Williams Boulevard that extends from Walnut Street to the park’s east side. Surrounding the park are established residential neighborhoods of well-maintained older homes on large lots.
Centennial Park
Encompassing 190 acres, this park was added to the Park District in 1997. The park is located on the far southwest side of Springfield where residential and commercial development has been expanding in recent years. The site is bordered by Bunker Hill Road on the south and Lenhart Road on the east. A new church complex is across the street to the east and a new residential development is on the north. An abandoned railroad right-of-way runs diagonally through the park southwest to northeast. This corridor will be developed as the regional Sangamon Valley Trail in the future.
Lincoln Park
This park on the north side of Springfield is an 88-acre site added to the park district in 1905. This is one of the historic parks, developoed as termini of the urban trolley line in use at the time. Its design and many features date back to its original development. This park is bounded by black Avenue on the south, 5th Street on the east, Sangamon Avenue on the north, 1st Street then Oak Ridge and Calvary cemeteries on the west. Surrounding the park are established residential neighborhoods as well as the State Fairgrounds to the northeast and Springfield College and Ursuline Academy High School to the southeast.
Rotary Park
Rotary Park encompasses 40 acres and was added to the park system in 1994. It is on the southwest side of Springfield. It is bordered by West Iles Avenue on the south, Archer Elevator Road on the east, and by new residential development on the north and west. The park is centrally located in an area of recent residential development.
