The Springfield City Council has formally approved the transfer of the Y-Block to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The city is giving the 2.25-acre site to IDNR to develop a public park with state funds.
A number of proposals for how to utilize the empty lot on the north end of the governor’s mansion have been floated by successive local and state governments since the city acquired the former site of the YWCA in 2014 for about $1.5 million.
The site has become the host of the annual Levitt AMP weekly summertime music series.
Governor JB Pritzker has expressed renewed interest in developing the site into a public park and event space, telling the Citizen’s Club of Springfield in May 2024 that the state and city were in talks.
IDNR announced on July 8 that $4 million has been designated to develop the site with an amphitheatre, lawn seating, play spaces and walking trails.
Ward 1 Alderman Jeff Cox said he’s confident the state will follow through on its plans.
The council rejected an amendment from Ward 3 Alderman Roy Williams Jr. which would have placed special conditions on the transfer agreement.
