Lake Springfield reached its full pool—560 feet above sea level—shortly after midnight on May 2, 1935, when water first spilled over the Spaulding Dam. The lake was created through the impoundment of Sugar Creek, upstream of the dam, and has served as a vital resource for water supply, recreation, and community development for nearly a century. In celebration of Lake Springfield's 90th anniversary, the City of Springfield and City Water, Light and Power (CWLP) are marking this special milestone in 2025.
For kick off of this anniversary milestone, the City of Springfield and CWLP invite the community to celebrate Lake Springfield’s 90th Birthday on Monday, June 2, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Center Park near the Beach House. The public is encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to sit on and any bags or outdoor games to play in the park.
This family-friendly gathering will feature:
- Live music by Jason McKenzie beginning at 5 p.m.
- Bags Games
- CWLP, Fire, and Police vehicles on site for youth to explore
- YMCA Big Wheel of Fun
- Food Trucks (food available for purchase) from Smiley’s Concessions, Los Rancheros, and Potbelly’s
- Birthday Cake
CWLP is kicking off a “Love The Lake” photo challenge in honor of the lake's 90 years as well. The public is invited to share their favorite memories, scenic shots, and moments of joy on and around the lake. Whether it’s a sunrise on the water, a family picnic, fishing with friends, or historic photos from years past — all are encouraged to share images of how they
Love the Lake. Selected photos will become a part of Lake Springfield’s 90th Anniversary Photo Record and may be exhibited and published for future use. The first 100 submissions that have their photos selected will earn a pair of CWLP summer fun sunglasses.
Learn More: Love The Lake Photo Challenge
Stay tuned all year long for exciting happenings, events and special moments as we celebrate 90 years of Lake Springfield!
How It Began
An Illinois State Journal Register story reported the official recommendation to build a lake because of the inadequacy of the City’s source of water at the Sangamon River for future needs was presented to a City Commission on May 31, 1923 and formally adopted in 1924. The City then began investigating sites and settled on the Sugar Creek site on the recommendation of engineers.
Special legislation to raise the bonding power of cities to construct lakes for water supply purposes was obtained and passed. Springfield voters approved a $2.5m bond referendum that would make it possible to build Lake Springfield in 1930.
Clearing timber from the land began in fall 1931. In addition to the main dam, it would be necessary to construct a dividing dam to keep water from flowing into Horse Creek at a point near the Sugar Creek basin. The lake was created by the impoundment of water upstream of the Spaulding Dam on Sugar Creek. Construction of the lake was called the City’s largest single project ever undertaken at the time. The new lake has an average depth of 14 feet and a capacity of 21.4 billion gallons of water. It is 12 miles long and 2 miles across at its widest point. The City’s cost to build the lake and its auxiliary public improvements on the City’s marginal lands would be $5.64 million.