State leaders are still talking about the need for a Capital Bill to fund roads and new construction projects around Illinois. Past capital bills such as Illinois First included funding for land acquisition to preserve natural open spaces. Whether conservation will be included in the currently proposed Capital Bill is an open question.
Last year, resolutions calling for conservation funding received broad support and were even co-sponsored by Springfield area Representatives Raymond Poe and Rich Brauer, who otherwise aren't known for having stellar environmental records. The push for iSPACE (Illinois Special Places Conservation, Acquisition, and Enhancement) is one of the top legislative priorities for Illinois environmental groups this year.
This could impact Springfield in particular since it looks like the Hunter Lake Dam won't be built. If the state has funding for land acquisition Springfield could sell the Hunter Lake property to create a large nature preserve.
If the city decides to sell off the Hunter Lake property piecemeal the best we can hope for is yet another cookie cutter subdivision on the edge of town that will benefit a few developers. The alternative is a rare opportunity to provide all residents with a prime natural recreation area that will add to the area's appeal as a tourist destination, improve our quality of life and make Springfield a more desirable location for new residents and businesses.
The recreational possibilities for the Hunter mud puddle were limited. If the Chamber of Commerce with its Q5 initiative wants to make Springfield more appealing for future growth then they should be working hard to salvage their loss on the Hunter Lake initiative by encouraging the state to purchase the property for the creation of a new nature preserve. That will benefit Springfield's economy for years to come more than a new lake would have.