Centennial
Park, encompassing 190 acres 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.
On the east
side of the site, an entry road from Bunker Hill Road runs northerly
and makes a loop, incorporating parking along its edge. To the
west is a small lake, 4 acres in area. Beyond that is a sledding
hill, 100 feet high. A playground, 2 picnic shelters, and outdoor
picnic areas lie to the north and east of the driveway. Four ball
fields are east of the loop road. On the east side of the park
off Lenhart Road, an entrance and parking area serve a new large
skateboard facility and several bocce ball courts. A maintenance
building is located in the southwest corner of the park. These
developed areas have had some trees planted, generally in rows
to outline use areas.
Land to the
west side of the railroad has remained agricultural row crops.
A small creek flows along the western edge of the park. The ground
is rolling along the creek and a small area is wooded. The remainder
of the site is open fields.
Click here
for aerial view with amenities.
