A Guide for All Ages & Abilities SPRINGFIELD Greetings, Springfield, Illinois is a city rich with history, full of entertainment options and amenities you would find in a bigger city while maintaining a quaint As Governor of the smaller town charm. You can discover Springfield and find the sites of State of Illinois, our beloved 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. At the Lincoln Presidential Museum, you can explore the experiences that shaped the man he would I am proud to become—from his boyhood in a rustic cabin to his rise as a young welcome you to statesman—all leading to Lincoln’s ultimate destiny as the healer of our our state, which nation. Just outside the doors of this world-class museum you’ll find the actual places Lincoln lived and worked in Springfield and have the not only boasts an opportunity to pay your respects at Lincoln’s Tomb. impressive range Springfield is the perfect getaway for your next romantic escape, family vacation, girls’ weekend and more. You can shop of topnotch travel your day away in one of our many boutique shops or well known stores; attend touring Broadway theatre or superior local opportunities, but is productions at our center for the arts; and let your palate go wild in one of many wonderful local restaurants. also at the forefront The Springfield Park District will soon open Southwind Park which promises a new dimension of inclusion for all people of meeting the without boundaries. This exquisite facility will offer year-round fun, education and recreation programs set amidst needs of residents beautiful natural habitats, wide open green space, unique water features and cutting-edge recreational facilities. and visitors with disabilities. We’re thankful to the Open Doors Organization for providing Easy Access Springfield as an accessible guide to Springfield. Be sure and order your Official Springfield Visitor Guide to compliment the Easy Access Springfield Guide. You can order In presenting Easy Access Springfield, it is also my your guide by visiting the Springfield Convention and Visitor’s web site at www.visit-springfieldillinois.com. pleasure to extend a warm welcome from our state We look forward to your visit! capital where accessibility has long been a priority. Sincerely, Whether you visit official buildings such as the State Capitol or historic attractions like the Lincoln Home, Tim Farley you will find that Springfield leads by example. Timothy J. Davlin Executive Director Mayor Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau Hopefully this new, comprehensive access guide will also set an example that others will follow. By providing accurate, detailed information on Welcome to Springfield, our friendly, historic state capital where inclusion has long been a watchword. Whether you are here on business or for a family holiday, you will find many more accommodations, attractions, restaurants and great places to visit than you have time for. Even the city’s earliest buildings such as the Elijah Iles transportation, Easy Access Springfield makes House, the Old State Capitol and Lincoln’s Home have been adapted for visitors in wheelchairs. trip planning quick and easy for individuals with And wait until you see the city’s newest, universally accessible attraction—Southwind Park. It truly is a model for all to emulate. all types of disabilities. Like its predecessor, Easy Access Chicago, it exemplifies the Gov. Pat Quinn and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity are proud to bring you this innovative new guide to Springfield. The second in the series, Easy Access ongoing commitment that Illinois has Springfield maintains the high standard set by Easy Access Chicago. It too provides the reliable, made to provide a welcoming environment detailed information needed for people with disabilities, families with children with disabilities to those in need of accessibility. and other family members and friends to plan everything from a weekend getaway to a weeklong business trip. The online version even includes searchable databases for hotels and restaurants that enable users to quickly locate properties that On behalf of the citizens of Illinois, I wish to meet their specific needs. thank you for using Easy Access Springfield Visitors to Illinois can now plan seamless, accessible travel in both Chicago and Springfield. Our hope is that these unique guides will help both cities become even more accessible and encourage more travel and tourism across the state. Travel and for choosing Illinois for your travel agents, tour operators, and meeting planners will also find these guides an invaluable resource. They represent another destination. For further information, log on to reason why Illinois is a great tourism destination for everyone. www.enjoyillinois.com or call (800) 2CONNECT. Copies of Easy Access Springfield and Easy Access Chicago may be ordered from the Illinois Office of Tourism, www.enjoyillinois.com, or call (800) 2CONNECT. Sincerely, Enjoy your visit, and we know you will be coming back soon. Sincerely, Pat Quinn Warren Ribley Governor Director Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Photo: Terry Farmer www.easyaccessspringfield.org EASYACCESS SPRINGFIELD: A Guide for All Ages & Abilities Open Doors Organization is proud to bring the City of Springfield its first comprehensive access guide! Many thanks to the businesses and facilities that participated. Springfield Overview ......................................2 Welcome to Easy Access Springfield! Attractions This is the second guide in our Easy 2551 N. Clark Street, Suite 301 • Lincoln Sites ................................................................... 4 Access series. Like Easy Access Chicago, IL 60614 • Other Historic Sites ......................................................6 Chicago, it is a comprehensive resource 773-388-8839 • Museums ...........................................................................8 for travelers with disabilities and their www.opendoorsnfp.org families, as well as for local residents. A • Gardens and Wildlife ...................................................8 much larger and more detailed version of the guide with searchable Project Director/Editor: hotel and restaurant listings is available online. Featured in both is Laurel Van Horn, ODO Southwind Park, Springfield’s new, universally accessible city park Entertainment and Shopping which we had the pleasure to help design. Design: Linda Cassady • Theatres/Arts ..................................................................9 Open Doors Organization is a Chicago-based non-profit whose mission www.lindacassady.net • Cinemas ..........................................................................10 is to teach businesses how to make their goods and services accessible to people with disabilities. Our staff of professionals has over forty Photography: • Nightlife ...........................................................................10 Laurel Van Horn years of experience in disability travel, and our research has provided • Shopping ......................................................................... 11 the only credible market studies on the needs and preferences of Terry Farmer (cover photo & as credited) travelers with disabilities in America. In compiling this access guide, our trained site inspectors visited more Although the information contained Family Fun than 150 hotels, restaurants, museums, theatres and public facilities to in Easy Access Springfield was • Southwind Park ............................................................ 12 audit their accessibility. We thank everyone who welcomed us to their believed to be correct at the time properties and answered our many questions. But above all, we thank of publication, neither the Open • Illinois State Fair ..........................................................14 the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Doors Organization nor any of its • Amusement Parks and Arcades ............................14 its director, Warren Ribley, for providing the funding to make this officers, directors, employees or important project possible. We are proud to help the State of Illinois members shall be held responsible promote inclusion and accessibility for everyone. or liable for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions nor for information Sports and Recreation .....................................15 Our intention in presenting this guide is neither to enforce compliance that changes or becomes outdated nor to endorse specific accessible properties, but instead to provide a overtime. We advise you to call detailed and reliable source of information that people with disabilities ahead to confirm the information Restaurants ........................................................... 18 of all types and older travelers can use to locate properties and venues contained in Easy Access Springfield. that fit their specific needs. Open Doors Organization makes no Thank you for choosing Springfield. We hope that Easy Access endorsement or warranties regarding Lodging.................................................................. 24 Springfield will make your stay much more convenient and pleasurable. any facilities, goods or services listed in this guide. The access features reported are not intended to reflect Transportation compliance with any local, state or federal laws, regulations or guidelines. • Getting Around ...........................................................29 Eric Lipp Copyright © 2010 Open Doors