By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A former farm field is now the site of Erin’s Pavilion and Edwin Watts Southwind Park. The park and pavilion were both built for complete accessibility for all ages and abilities, with special emphasis and attention given to those with physical and cognitive disabilities.
This park once belonged to a farmer named Edwin Watts. A local pioneer, Watts settled on 80 acres back in 1901. Located just south of the Springfield city limits, the farm was also a cattle trading operation and the Watts family remained on the farm for four generations.
As the city began to approach the farm, according to the Southwind website, “The Watts family descendants recognized the need for a park to promote and ensure green space and recreation programs to benefit our community residents. As a result of their keen insight and harmony with the pioneer spirit of their great grandfather, the family donated the land for the Springfield Park District to develop a new park; hence, the ‘Edwin Watts Southwind Park.’”
The park will open in late summer or early fall and the pavilion is already operational. Under the Springfield Park District, Erin’s Pavilion is a community center that is also an award-winning “green” building, which opened on May 19 (see sidebar for details).
Leslie Sgro, Springfield Park District president, said, “We are just thrilled, this is truly a park for everyone of all abilities. We couldn’t be more pleased to offer this to Springfield. A lot of time, thought and love and a lot of heart went into this.”
Erin’s Pavilion incorporates 15,000 square feet of indoor space and a 3,000 square-foot outdoor terrace overlooking the lake. The Grand Hall Room of the Pavilion offers a panoramic view of the park’s lake and seats more than 300 people. The Hall has become popular for weddings and events. “We are booked every Saturday through November,” said Diane Mathis of the Springfield Park District.
The park is created as a space that citizens of all ages and physical abilities can enjoy. The park offers a flat concrete color-coated walkway and six different gardens: children’s, sensory, tranquil, fragrant, enabling and butterfly gardens.
“We will also have a shuffleboard game, bocce ball court and a life-size chess game and horseshoes,” Mathis said, as well as a stocked lake and three fishing piers.
The park offers an 80-acre great lawn and a large playground. An accessible tree house that is in the design phase is being constructed with wood from trees cut at Washington Park. Water from the fishing lake will be used for a sprinkler system to irrigate the lawn and gardens.
So many beautiful items are set throughout the gardens, such as four replicas of arches from the Chicago World’s Fair, strategically placed and offering synchronized lights and music.
To assist individuals’ movement around the park, specialty trams will have scheduled stops. “This park serves as a national model for accessibility,” Mathis said.
“We met with President Obama’s special assistant on disability policy, Karem Dale. We are modifying human behavior, by providing a venue that everyone can take part in leisure activity.”
The park is located in the southern area of Springfield and is easily accessible from interstates 55 and 72. Traveling west on Toronto Road just past Interstate 55, the first street is Second Street. Turn right (north) on Second, travel two miles to Southwind Road and the park is located on the left (west) side of Second Street.
To contact Erin’s Pavilion, call 217-753-0702 or check out www.southwind park.org |
