Architectural rendering of how Bicentennial Plaza will look when finished
When completed, Bicentennial Plaza will be a community centerpiece. Image credit: Massie Massie & Associates Inc.

Work has begun on an ambitious plan to transform a parking lot into a community centerpiece which will showcase Springfield’s history and ties to Abraham Lincoln.

Bicentennial Plaza – A REALTOR® Community Partnership is a $2 million investment in the city’s downtown which will realize a long-held vision of a pedestrian walkway linking the Abraham Lincoln Home National Historic Site with the Illinois Executive Mansion and state Capitol.

The plaza is being built on land owned by Illinois REALTORS® and is scheduled to be dedicated in time to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Illinois Constitution in August, 2018.

“Illinois REALTORS® wanted to do something significant to celebrate the state that has provided so much to our members and those who rely on them,” said Illinois REALTORS® President Matt Difanis. “Since our headquarters is located in the heart of Springfield’s historic district, our members felt it was important to play a supporting role in the bicentennial celebration.”

Bicentennial Plaza is being built in part with $1 million provided by the city of Springfield. In addition to donating use of its land, Illinois REALTORS® and other private partners are providing the balance of the funds necessary to complete the project.

When finished, Bicentennial Plaza will provide a public-use space located on the north side of the Illinois REALTORS® headquarters between Fifth and Sixth streets in Springfield.

Planning for the project has been ongoing for more than two years, but the first publicly visible signs of work were in August when portions of the parking lot were removed. In October and November, an old bank branch building was torn down to make way for the project.

Overview Map of how Bicentennial Plaza will look
This overview shows the footprint of the plaza which will help link historic sites in Springfield. Image credit: Massie Massie & Associates Inc.

Lincoln’s vision reflected in design

Bicentennial Plaza is dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln’s vision for America as a country with opportunity and equality for all. The plaza will have more than a dozen interpretive panels showcasing people, places and events which tie into Lincoln’s vision.

Illinois REALTORS® is working with historians from the National Park Service and the state Department of Natural Resources to craft the panels’ content.

Featured historical figures with Springfield ties include abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who spoke in Springfield a number of times; Anderson Holman, a Springfield developer who built homes on the city’s east side; and Eva Monroe, who established a charity that provided aid to African-American widows and orphans.

The plaza will include a display devoted to telling the story of the Springfield Race Riot of 1908 which resulted in the deaths of two black men at the hands of a white mob and which caused extensive property damage. The riot was a catalyst for the creation of the NAACP.

The plaza will recognize the 50th anniversary of the federal Fair Housing Act with a marker commemorating this important law.

A series of photos documenting the progress of the construction process for Bicentennial Plaza through the fall of 2017.

A ‘Signature Project’ emerges

Transforming the so-called Jackson Street corridor in Springfield has long been a goal of city planners. The area around Bicentennial Plaza has sites linked with Abraham Lincoln, who historians say would have often used Jackson Street while he lived in Springfield to visit friends and conduct business.

The several-block area along Jackson Street has been a recent focus of development.

A decaying three-story YWCA building was torn down in early 2017 to clear the way for development. And, for the first time in decades, extensive renovations are being done to the Executive Mansion which is located across the street from Illinois REALTORS®.

Bicentennial Plaza fits right in with work along the Jackson Street corridor. The Illinois Bicentennial Commission identified Bicentennial Plaza as a “Signature Project” of the yearlong celebration.

Chicago REALTOR® Jim Kinney is on the commission, and has been a longtime advocate for preserving the state’s heritage.

“Illinois REALTORS® work with heart in every community, so it’s only natural that we want to play a role in celebrating the state’s rich history,” said Jim Kinney, who is also a past president of Illinois REALTORS®

Bicentennial Plaza Donate a Brick Campaign