Lately Springfield seems to be in a
“Wouldn’t it be great if. . . ?” mood, as opposed
to the “there’s no money” mood that prevails most
of the time. It’s hard to explain, because there’s
still no money. The president is bogged down in Iraq and Louisiana,
the governor is both unpopular and unbeatable, and the City Council
just approved a huge electric-rate increase. Perhaps the success of
the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (we have to come up
with a shorter name) has contributed to the optimism, or maybe the
town is just giddy from secondhand meth fumes. Regardless of why, a
year ago if somebody had proposed making the old Pillsbury plant
into shops, loft apartments, and artists’ studios, they would
have been laughed into the county. Now, even unfeasible ideas get
written down and discussed as though they have merit. “You
have to start with ideas first,” said Chuck Davis, the San
Francisco architect who came to town as part of the R/UDAT team, “and learn how to fund them
later.”
So, quick, while Springfield is still
thinking it can do anything it sets its mind to do, I want to put a
few ideas on the list. Show off Douglas School. The beautiful twin-towered Douglas School, located at
444 W. Reynolds St., designed by the prestigious architectural firm
of Helmle and Helmle and built in 1917 — was originally
praised for its spacious grounds and beautiful landscaping.
“Picturesque grounds add inspiration at Douglas
School,” read a 1930s headline. But the architectural gem is
now hidden behind two big 1970s Springfield Public Schools
warehouses in what should be the school’s front yard, on
Walnut. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get rid of the
warehouses and light up the school at night so that those who drive
in on Madison from the west could have a Parthenon-like view of the
historic school on a hill? Reclaim the fringe of Douglas Park. A friend came up with this. Douglas Park,
across Walnut from Douglas School, is a jewel of a park in
Springfield’s central city, with old oaks and band concerts
that draw old folks. On the northern edge of the park, right next
to the green hills and tall cottonwoods, is an industrial site, with warehouses and parking lots.
Wouldn’t it be great if someone would line the park instead with
fine houses and apartments so that people, not just trucks, would look
out over the serene hills? Build a public amphitheater directly east of Springfield
High School. This idea comes from
Tony Leone, the Pasfield House dynamo who has many more ideas where
this one came from. He writes: “Both of the other public high
schools have seated football stadiums. Why not SHS? Consider a
public amphitheater, soccer or football field, and ice-skating
rink. A cooperative effort between the school district, park
district, and City Hall would be needed. All three of these public
bodies would benefit by combining efforts to make this a functional
setting, beautifying a strategic property that has become a serious
blight on the area.” Make the Lincoln Colored Home the place where Springfield
comes together. The new owners of the
historic Lincoln Colored Home, at 12th and Capitol, once a county
orphanage, have ideas of turning the 1904 brick structure and its
site into a museum and conference center. Lyman Hubbard, 79, who is
working on the project with son Lee and granddaughter Laura, recently told the State Journal-Register his
vision: “The Lincoln Colored Home could bridge elements of the
community, politically and socially, so people could meet and talk
about the problems. Springfield east of Eleventh Street is not the
Springfield I grew up in.” The proposed Capitol Avenue
beautification project could usher visitors to this site, which could
serve as a gateway to a revitalized east side of town. Wouldn’t
it be great if the Lincoln Colored Home came together and brought
Springfield with it? I could go on, but how about asking you
readers for ideas? Wouldn’t it be great if we got some
hopeful responses, perhaps impractical but at least noncynical?
Don’t laugh. They’re starting to rebuild the tower on
Union Station, which will soar as a monument to
anything-can-happen. Send your ideas to “Wouldn’t it be
great
if. . . ?” in care of Illinois
Times. E-mail
mygreatidea@illinoistimes.com, check the link at our Web site
(www.illinoistimes.com), or write us at P.O. Box 5256, Springfield,
IL 62705.
This article appears in Sep 29 – Oct 5, 2005.
