• Education,  History,  Middle Sangamon

    By the way, did you know?

    By Jim Farris In this new monthly blog post produced by the Friends of Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial to share little or unknown facts about Abraham Lincoln, his family and his activities while living in Macon County in Illinois.  These short facts will be sent out the first day of each month. In 1915, fifty years after President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, the Illinois General Assembly authorized the State Historical Library to mark the route traveled by the Thomas Lincoln Family from their homestead in Indiana to the place where they would settle in Illinois. It would be another 50 years before the trail opened in 1963. Thousands of markers…

  • Middle Sangamon,  Recreation

    Lincoln Trail Homestead State & Memorial is Open!

    Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial is open for all to visit and enjoy  We hope you will see the difference the removal of honeysuckle has made to the park as well as the new handicapped accessible toilet.  We are reminding everyone the guidelines that IDNR has issued:-Park hours are 8:30 am to 10 pm.-Please carry all items out that were carried in. We want to limit contact with refuse as much as possible.-The pavilions are going to remain closed until further notice (both will be roped off prior to opening).-The playgrounds are going to remain closed until further notice (both will be roped off prior to opening).-Gatherings of more than 10…

  • Conservation,  Middle Sangamon

    Message from James Farris, Chair of the Community Environmental Council Membership Committee

    If you are a member of the Community Environmental Council, have been in the past, or perhaps have given some thought to becoming a member, I must remind you that membership dues of $20 per person are now due.  I encourage you to send your dues to: % Melody ArnoldCommunity Environmental Council3939 Nearing LaneDecatur, IL 62521 All members of CEC may attend CEC board meetings.   Board Meetings are the first Wednesday of each month, 4:00 PM, at Rock Springs Nature Center. Other meetings’ times, dates and location will be provided via email as well as all other communications.  It is therefore imperative that we have your current email address to…

  • Conservation,  Middle Sangamon

    City of Decatur Sought Proposals for Lake Decatur Watershed Management Plan

    The City of Decatur, Illinois, requested sealed statements of qualifications and proposals from interested, qualified firms to provide the following professional services to the City of Decatur: Develop a long term Lake Decatur Watershed Management Plan to significantly reduce the amount of sediment and nitrate nitrogen entering Lake Decatur. All proposals were received by the City prior to the deadline–4:00 p.m., local time, October 9, 2019. Click here to learn more about what the proposals included.

  • Conservation,  Middle Sangamon,  Restoration,  Stewardship

    Friends Restoration Work Days

    The Friends’ next Restoration Day is September 7, 2019 from 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM.  A very successful day of cutting bush honeysuckle took place August 23rd.  With the help of Friends of the park and Ameren employees who took part in the annual Day of Action of the United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois, a large amount of bush honeysuckle was removed.  We are so grateful for those who worked so hard that day.  However, there is still much more to be removed.  Please consider coming out to the park on September 7th and giving us a hand in removing this invasive species–see details here.