Lake Springfield plan aims to inspire investment in 1,000-acre site

Ecological improvements to Lake Springfield and development of recreational, cultural and natural amenities surrounding it are highlights of a proposed $1 billion master plan unveiled to the public this month.

The plan capitalizes on Lake Springfield and surrounding natural amenities – 1,000 acres, all owned by City Utilities of Springfield – and offers a vision that would expand the city’s entertainment, hospitality, adventure and conservation offerings.

Its purpose is to jump-start private innovation at the site, according to Steve Prange, vice president of Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Inc., the engineering and consulting firm hired to draft the plan. Prange described the plan as “whetting the appetite” of the development community.

“We’re trying to inspire people to invest in this area,” he said. “Development will tell us what the right answer is there.”

He said the plan tells developers what the community is lacking and invites them to make proposals. He expects a multiphase development for the next 10 years and beyond.

The plan for the 1,000-acre property begins with the lake, formed in 1955 by the damming of the James River to create a cooling water source for the James River Power Plant.

Prange said about half a million cubic yards of silt has built up in the lake over nearly 70 years. As a result, a member of his scientific team estimated the lake will be fully filled in and converted to a wetland within 20-50 years.

The plan recommends solving the problem by dredging portions of the lake to build a series of so-called “eco islands.” These islands would be joined by elevated boardwalks that are part of a 3-mile trail system. As people use the elevated trails, kayakers and canoers could glide right underneath, he said.

The eco islands are an innovation that would be almost unique to Lake Springfield, he said, and would likely draw a lot of visitors to experience it.

Five zones
The plan separates the land into five zones, each with a separate vision for its use.

Beginning from the south, Zone 1, the south activity area, is envisioned with an eco-retreat theme featuring a retreat conference center and associated cabins and yurts. The zone would also include opportunities for recreation and corporate challenge activities, like ropes courses, a bike park and lake amenities.

No development is envisioned for Zone 2, currently an active coal-ash landfill run by CU.

There are two competing visions for Zone 3, the power station and dam area just south of the lake. Options are to develop either an entertainment district or an adventure hub. Both ideas utilize the mostly decommissioned James River Power Station facility. The site will also retain some power generation uses, according to CU officials.

“We still have assets that are serving our customers today,” said Gary Gibson, CU president and CEO, citing combustion turbines, a substation and a natural gas peak shaving system, which provides backup power during peak usage times.

“It’s going to take time for that area to develop,” Gibson said. “As we phase out, it’s going to take longer for some spaces than for others.”

He added that CU can use the facilities in a way that complements the vision for the site.

Zone 4 is the existing Lake Springfield Park and lake access area.

“We’re going to double down on the boathouse and the marina,” Prange said. “We think it needs to be two to three times bigger than what it is.”

He said the boathouse will be a popular area for community events.

“It’s really tranquil, you know? And it’s close,” he said. “Everything is in Springfield, but it makes you think you’re out in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of a nature preserve. So, we wanted to harness on that idea.”

The eco island and wetland boardwalk concept is a chief element of the vision for the zone, and destination play, disc golf and trail connections round out the picture.

The final area of the land to the north is Zone 5, which the plan calls the north activity area, in close proximity to the Springfield Conservation Nature Center. This area would feature a nature amenity focused on meadows and wetlands. Trails and river access are highlights, and a cultural education center to focus on Native American and other history of the area is envisioned.

The plan also envisions more access points to the James River on both sides of U.S. highways 60 and 65 in Zone 5.

“We’re providing the public a lot of different opportunities to interact with the water and get into the water with their kayak or canoe and be able to access it a little bit easier than what they can right now,” Prange said.

Power plant concepts
While the plan presents a clear picture for four of the area’s zones, the power plant zone is a different story, with visions for either an entertainment district or an adventure hub.

The entertainment district could include a sizable conference center, Prange said. RV camping and glamping could be included, along with retail, restaurants, riverfront recreation, an event lawn and a pavilion at the power plant site. It could also include a bike park.

The adventure hub concept capitalizes on the waterfront experience with a conference center, hospitality and restaurant amenities, Prange said.

“It’s going to be a massive development that will attract many different organizations and conferences to our area on a scale and size that we do not come close to offering,” he said.

A canopy ropes course, zipline, bike park, camping, archery and outdoor music scene are part of the adventure hub concept.

Prange said the plan provides ways for people to connect with the water.

“We do have a unique opportunity with the James to create one of the world’s largest water trails,” he said, suggesting Lake Springfield could connect with Lake Taneycomo. “It could be a huge national draw to experience something like that.”

Cost of the plan
Prange said the entire plan with the first concept, the entertainment district, would cost about $1.2 billion, and the second concept of the adventure hub would cost $1 billion. With private investment, as envisioned for this area of the site, the financial burden would not be on taxpayers, he said, but would instead be covered by the private developers. Eventually, special taxing districts or similar instruments could be employed to pay for infrastructure improvements, he said.

The plan estimates that if enacted as written, after incremental development, in year 10, jobs at the site would number 1,091 with the entertainment district, and 946 with the adventure hub.

Direct visitor spending and total room night estimates for year 10 alone would be $197.5 million and 62,665 with the entertainment district and $171.2 million  and 34,801 for the adventure hub.

The entertainment district could be expected to generate $9.5 million in taxes in year 10, and the adventure hub could yield $8.1 million.

Prange said any part of the property, even Lake Springfield Park, could be sold to a private entity.

“When we started this planning process, we challenged all of our partners to think big and outside the box,” he said. “Everything is on the table.”

Gibson said he believes a large part of the property will probably be retained under public ownership, and the public will retain free access, even as spaces within the parcel will be activated by private developers. Long-term lease agreements are possible.

“We want to make sure the investment is recouped for those customers who have paid for that property over the last 75 years and their (utility) rates remain affordable,” Gibson said. “It’s such a large space, and the possibilities are so wide for what you could do out there. I do think it’s going to take that public-private partnership to make something really special on the south side of town.”

Gibson said the public input that went into both the Lake Springfield Plan, and the city’s Forward SGF comprehensive plan that sparked it, is key to the success of any project that emerges.

“I heard a quote last week that said if you think you’re doing something for the community and you’re not doing it with the community, you’re doing it to the community,” he said. “We have to make sure the public comes along with us.”

The Lake Springfield Plan is being funded by an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, $100,000 from the Hatch Foundation, $60,000 from City Utilities and $40,000 from the city of Springfield.