Mission: To honor the memory of abraham lincoln by providing a place where the public can enjoy nature in all seasons, learn to be better stewards of the environment and discover the relationship among native plants, wildlife, water, soil, and sunlight. Our purpose is to manage and fund the preservation, protection, maintenance, and improvement of the garden (orginally designed by jens jensen) as a living memorial to abraham lincoln.
Programs: Ground and building maintenance - the garden employs 1 full-time and 1 part-time groundskeeper and 2-3 seasonal workers to maintain the original 65 acre jens jensen designed site and an additional 49 acres acquired and renovated in accordance with the garden's mission and purpose.
educational programs, workshops, and nature study presentations - the garden employs a full time educator and 3-5 part-time summer assistants to present ecological education programs on the gardens grounds and in local school districts.
membership and newsletter - the garden publishes and mails a quarterly newsletter to approximately 700 members and other organizations to inform members (and the public) about garden events, environmental issues, ecological issues, and other matters consistent with the garden's mission and purposes.
Lincoln Memorial Garden is a gem. I have served as a board member and volunteer for seven years and love and respect its mission more each year. This is not a "garden" in the usual sense but a woodland artfully designed by the great landscape architect Jens Jensen in the 1930s. Its purpose is to honor Springfield's greatest citizen, Abraham Lincoln, by recreating the landscape he would have known. The original 69 acres bordering Lake Springfield has been expanded with restored prairie and an oak grove to 100 acres with many miles of trails. The environmental education program is outstanding, especially the work with children, starting with preschoolers. Best of all, the Garden is free (except for special events) thanks to the generosity of members and donors and good stewardship of financial resources.