Washington Park on the west side of Springfield is an 150-acre site 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.
Washington
Park contains a variety of facilities, many of them unique to
the park system and some unique to the region. It is one of the
most heavily used parks in the district. The park has rolling
terrain, large trees and wooded areas, some deep ravines and two
man-made lagoons.
Vehicular
access is provided into the park from the north, east and south
sides. A loop road system allows motorists to access several parking
areas and the various use areas of the park. Pedestrians use the
park roads as well for walking, running, bicycling, etc. Additional
off-road trails are provided for hiking through some areas of
the park.
The park is
primarily for passive recreational activity, although centered
in the park is a complex of 12 tennis courts, paddle tennis courts,
and a pro-shop. To the west is a large playground and a large
pavilion with ADA accessible restrooms. Historic features within
the park include the large, enclosed pavilion, a band pavilion
and a lagoon on the park's east side. Toward the park's west side
along the Jacksonville Branch Creek is a lower lagoon.
On the park's
far west side are the Washington Park Botanical Gardens and Rees
Memorial Carillon.
Click here
for aerial view with amenities
Click here for the distance of the loop
