The Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association was formed in 1989 by a group of concerned citizens living within the area bounded by North 3rd street (west), North 9th street (east), North Grand Avenue (north), and Carpenter Street (south) in Springfield, Illinois. Here is a diagram of the Enos Park Historic Area as it is represented today (highlighted in blue), along with the medical district boundaries (highlighted in green). As you can see, we truly are the heart of the Mid-Illinois Medical District.
Our Association is dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the neighborhood as we seek to restore Enos Park to the “Jewel of Springfield,” as the area was known at the turn of the century. Several neighborhood residents have taken pro-active roles in upgrading the look and feel of our neighborhood by restoring their homes to their nineteenth century charms. Residents and some private investors are purchasing homes and buildings in Enos Park and infusing funds back into our historic neighborhood to bring it back, one house at a time!
The Association participates in the Adopt-A-Street program and coordinates neighborhood cleanups every spring and fall with the city’s Department of Public Works.
The Enos Park neighborhood is home to a diverse mix of ages and races, which adds to its cultural flavor. It is not uncommon to see neighbors sitting on their porches or chatting with friends who stroll by. The area has beautiful homes that date well back to the early 1800’s. The streets are tree lined and there are two wonderful parks in the neighborhood, Gehrmann Park on 3rd street and Enos Park at 7th and Enterprise. The street lights and pedestrian lights along the 5th and 6th St. corridors have been replaced with same type of historic lights used downtown. The antique lighting is not only more in keeping with the character of the neighborhood, but also provides a visual link for tourists and others traveling to and from the downtown area.
All Enos park residents can receive the Banner, a newsletter that pertains to the area and recent news that impacts the neighborhood; a PDF copy can be found on our newsletter page. Events of the Enos Park area include: spring and fall neighborhood clean-ups, a summer ice cream social, Rock the Block, hosting National Night Out for all the north end neighborhoods, Annual Enos Park Home Tour, Edwards Place Art Fair, Trunk or Treat, and various other events.
Within our neighborhood boundaries we have an elementary school, several restaurants, a grocery store, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, a bank and auto supply store all within walking distance. We are also a short walk, bike ride or drive from historic downtown Springfield, which has many unique restaurants and shops as well as the Abraham Lincoln tourism sites.
We also have two of the finest hospitals in the state of Illinois, St. John’s Hospital and Springfield Memorial Hospital. The Mid-Illinois Medical District was created in 2002, making it one of only three medical districts statewide. This has led to several projects already, such as the building of an annex of Springfield Clinic and SIU School of Medicine has constructed the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute. If you’re interested in learning more about the Mid-Illinois Medical District check out Springfield Medical District’s website.
In 2020, the YMCA of Springfield constructed a new, state-of-the-art facility at the corner of Fourth and Carpenter to replace the previous downtown facility. This was a $33 million investment into our neighborhood and the project was funded with the help of Springfield Memorial Hospital and TIF assistance from both the Central Area and Enos Park TIF districts. It has become a community gathering place and a significant anchor for our neighborhood.
We have monthly board meetings, as well as quarterly all neighborhood meetings. Be sure to check out our calendar for current information. Hope to see all of you there!
Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association
Board Members for 2025
| Lauren Baker, President | 217-899-4170, info@epnia.com |
| Fletcher “Bud” Farrar, Vice President | 217-523-2801 |
| Shannan Karrick, Treasurer | 309-696-8938 |
| Tiffany Lapp, Secretary | 630-688-8979 |
| Andrew Heathwaite, Director | 217-494-5491 |
Appointed Positions for 2022
| Betsy Dollar, SAA | 217-523-2631, Associate Member – Non-voting |
| Michelle Ownbey | 217-553-4629, Past President |
| Tami Langford | SIU School of Medicine |
Enos Park Development
Board Members for 2022
| Kirk Jefferis | 217-971-2258 |
| Linda Maier | 217-971-9138 |
| Michelle Ownbey | 217-553-4629, info@epnia.com |
Mailing Address
Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association
PO Box 2202
Springfield, IL 62705-2202