The map below shows the location of each of the Lake Springfield parks owned and managed by City Water, Light & Power, as well as the Henson Robinson Zoo, Lincoln Memorial Garden, and Lincoln Greens Golf Course. For a detailed description of each park, including its amenities and directions to it, click on the park name.
Tom Madonia Park (East and West)
Tom Madonia Park West is 2.57 acres. It contains a small amount of playground
equipment and horseshoe pits. It has one
pavilion and three
additional uncovered picnic
areas, each able to accommodate 75 people.
Tom Madonia Park East is 3.45 acres. It contains playground equipment, including some that is handicap-accessible. It has two pavilions and three additional uncovered picnic areas, each able to accommodate 75 people.
Each park has horseshoe pits, as well as a floating boat dock that allows access to the parks from the lake. Both allow handicap-accessibility from the parking lots and handicap-accessible fishing from the foot bridge that connects the two parks. Both parks have permanent restrooms. Both parks are located at the north end of East Lake Shore Drive, near Spaulding Dam.
Directions: Take Exit 94 off I-55 (East Lake Shore Drive exit) or go east on Stevenson Drive. Cross Spaulding Dam to East Lake Shore Drive. Round the curve after the dam and the entrances into the parks will be on your left as the road straightens (West park first and East Park a short way down the road).
Lake Park
Lake Park is 10.51 acres. It is located on East Lake Shore Drive near the Henson
Robinson Zoo. It contains a large amount of playground equipment and horseshoe
pits. The park has two pavilions
and four additional uncovered
picnic areas, each accommodating 75 people. A boat dock allows easy access
to the park from the lake. Permanent restrooms are located here.
Directions: Take Exit 94 off I-55 (East Lake Shore Drive exit) or go east on Stevenson Drive. Cross Spaulding Dam to East Lake Shore Drive and continue past Lincoln Greens Golf Course and through the curve that sweeps along the shore of the lake. After the curve, the road straightens out and the parking area to Lake Park is just a short way up the road on the left, just before the turn-off to Henson Robinson Zoo.
Center Park
Center Park is 30.96 acres. It is located just off East Lake Shore Drive, on
Long Bay Drive, across the street from Henson Robinson Zoo. This park is the
site of the
Beach House, which is available for rent to the public. Center Park has a large amount of playground equipment,
horseshoe pits, and a volleyball sand pit. It also contains five
softball diamonds. The park
has two small pavilions near
the Beach House, each accommodating 10-15 people, and four
uncovered picnic areas, each
accommodating 75 people. A boat launch, particularly suited for sailboats but
open to all watercraft, is located on the shore of Center Park, just north of
the Beach House. This launch is wheelchair accessible. Permanent restroom facilities are available year-round,
and temporary handicap-accessible restrooms are available from April through
mid-October.
Directions: (1) Take West Lake Shore Drive south from Stevenson Drive and follow the road for about 4.5 miles. After rounding a sharp turn, West Lake Shore Drive will run into Long Bay Drive (West Lake Shore will veer off to the right). Continue straight onto Long Bay and cross Vachel Lindsay Bridge. You will see the first entrance into the park (and the Beach parking area) immediately to your left upon crossing the bridge. Entrances into other areas of the park are located further east on Long Bay Drive.
(2) Take Exit 94 off I-55 (East Lake Shore Drive exit) or go east on Stevenson Drive. Cross Spaulding Dam to East Lake Shore Drive and continue past Lincoln Greens Golf course and through the curve that sweeps along the shore of the lake. After the curve, the road straightens out. A short way ahead, you'll see a sign for Henson Robinson Zoo on your right. At this sign, turn right onto Long Bay Drive. The park will be on your right. Multiple turnoffs, providing access to different areas of the park, are located along Long Bay Drive.
Beach Park
Beach Park is 4.78 acres. It is located across Long Bay Drive from Center Park
and is adjacent to the Lindsay Bridge Boat Launch. The park has few amenities
other than some picnic tables, but it offers a restful place to sit and enjoy a
fabulous view of the lake.
Directions: Follow the directions for Center Park. Beach Park is west of Henson Robinson Zoo on Long Bay Drive, across the road from Center Park and the Beach House area.
Cottonhill Park (East and West)
East Cottonhill Park is 7.71 acres. It has three
uncovered picnic areas, each
accommodating 75 people.
West Cottonhill Park is 12.10 acres. It has five uncovered picnic areas, each accommodating 75 people, and a boat dock that allows easy access to the park from the lake.
Each park contains a small amount of playground equipment, a softball diamond, and small permanent restroom facilities. The Parks are located near the southern end of East Lake Shore Drive, near Exit 88 off I-55.
Directions: Take Exit 88 off I-55, just south of the I-55 bridge over Lake Springfield. Turn left (east) at the top of the off ramp, toward East Lake Shore Drive. The parks are approximately one mile east of the exit, on the left (West park first and East Park just east of that).
Bridgeview Park
Bridgeview Park is 19.78 acres. It is located at 149 N. Lakewood Dr. in Chatham,
IL. The park has playground equipment, one
pavilion that accommodates
75 people, and a boat dock for easy access from the lake. This park is the site
of the Bridgeview Building,
which is available for rent by the public. Temporary restrooms are situated in
the park from late April through mid-October. A handicap-accessible temporary
restroom is located near the building.
Directions: Take Exit 88 off I-55, just south of the I-55 bridge over Lake Springfield. Bear right (west) at the top of the off ramp, heading toward Chatham. At the first opportunity, turn left – onto N. Lakewood Drive. This will lead you into the Bridgeview Park parking lot.
Wildlife Sanctuary
The Wildlife Sanctuary is 12.89 acres. It is located on Woodland Trail in
Chatham, IL. The Wildlife Sanctuary has a small amount of playground equipment,
horseshoe pits, and a softball
diamond. There is one
pavilion and four additional
uncovered picnic areas, each accommodating 75 people. A dock near the
pavilion allows easy access to the park from the lake. The park has a small
permanent restroom facility.
Directions: Take Exit 88 off I-55, just south of the I-55 bridge over Lake Springfield. Bear right (west, heading toward Chatham) at the top of the off ramp. On your right, about 0.75-1.0 mile from the exit, will be the turn-off for Chatham (Chatham Rd.). Follow it past Glenwood Intermediate and High Schools. Cross the lake at Glasser Bridge and take the next right turn. Approximately 0.25 mile ahead you'll have the option of taking a left onto Walnut St. or taking a sharp right. Keep right. Follow this road until it ends at Woodland Trail. Turn right onto Woodland Trail and follow it through the Wildlife Sanctuary to the park area.
Lick Creek Wildlife Preserve
Lick Creek Wildlife Preserve is 340 acres. It is located at the western-most end
of Lake Springfield and comprises beautiful wooded hills and marshy lowlands.
There are hiking trails through the Preserve, which is home to a variety of
native flora and fauna. The area was set aside as a wildlife preserve in 1991.
Directions: (1) Take Route 4 (Veteran's Parkway) to Woodside Road (approximately two miles from the I-72 juncture with Route 4. Turn east on Woodside and go about 0.4 mile to the Old Route 4 (Old Chatham Road) turn off on your right. Old Route 4 will take you to the Preserve's parking lot.
(2) Take Exit 90 off I-55. At top of off ramp, turn west onto Toronto Road. At Toronto Road and S. 2nd Street intersection, turn right (north) and go 0.5 mile to Woodside Road. Turn left (west) and proceed about 2.3 miles to the Old Route 4 (Old Chatham Road) turn off on your left. Take Old Route 4 to Preserve parking lot.
Lake Springfield Lake Springfield Parks
Special Park Facilities CWLP Home