Lincoln 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.
The site has
relatively flat, open areas on the north and rolling, forested
land on the west and south. It has a variety of passive and active
recreational facilities. It is one of the heaviest used parks
in the district.
Vehicular
access is provided from each of the surrounding streets into the
park, and internal loops provide access to several parking areas
and recreational facilities. Pedestrians share the roadway and
also use sidewalks within the park. Flower beds and a fountain
enhance the northeast frontage of the park. A street-tree arboretum
is nearby.
Lincoln Park
contains the greatest variety of sports-oriented facilities of
any park in the district. The roadway network, trails and open
space are used for walking, running, bicycling, training, and
school district cross-country meets. The northern half of the
park contains a soccer field, 6 ball diamonds with one lighted,
3 tennis courts, 3 shuffleboard courts and 6 horseshoe courts.
Also in this area, the Nelson Recreation Center contains an outdoor
swimming pool, 2 indoor ice rinks, rooms for special events, a
concession area and restrooms. South of the building is a small
bandstand, a picnic area with shelters and a large playground.
In the southern
half of the park, the historic stone pavilion is sited prominently
on a hillside. A small playground is nearby. The historic stone
bridge to the south spans a lagoon, creating a delightful location
for pedestrian meandering, photography, etc. A disc golf course
surrounds the lagoon and extends to the open meadow on the south.
Click here
for aerial view with amenities.
