Pike and Greene join in opposition to AltonWorks national park plan

By Editor | March 5, 2025 |

By Steven Spencer

David Camphouse/Scott County Times
Pike County approved a resolution of opposition to AltonWorks’ plan to create the “Great Rivers National Park.” Both Pike and Greene voted in favor of resolutions of opposition at their February meetings. As of the time of publication, according to Commissioner John Simmons, the Scott County commissioners had not yet been approached to adopt a resolution in opposition to the proposed park.

Pike County and Greene County are the latest to join in opposition to AltonWorks’ plan to create the “Great Rivers National Park.”

Both Pike and Greene voted in favor of resolutions of opposition at their February meetings.

Pike County voted unanimously on Monday, Feb. 24, citing their desire to protect private property owners and the hunting industry in the county.

Greene County cited similar concerns as well as lack of coordination with local governments or officials.

The proposed park would include 135,000 acres/144 miles along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. A map from AltonWorks includes specific sites such as Pere Marquette State Park, Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge and the Great River National Wildlife Refuge that would be included in the national park. Over 30 parks, refuges and conservation areas are listed as sites that would be included.

The idea was met with strong opposition from the public with more than 20 organizations, as well as counties and cities, in Illinois and Missouri voicing their opposition to the plan.

Outdoor recreation, hunting, funding and eminent domain have all been concerns raised by the public.

Congresswoman Miller Mary, State Representative C. D. Davidsmeyer, Senator Jil Tracy, Calhoun County, Jersey County, the City of Grafton, the City of West Alton, Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, Delta Waterfowl, Missouri Department of Conservation, IFOR and more have all issued letters and resolutions of opposition.

While AltonWorks hasn’t said much about the idea in recent months

Although AltonWorks hasn’t announced any updates on the park recently it is mentioned in their 2025 Federal, State, and Local Legislative Advocacy Agenda, and is included in their “Riverfront Activation Plan.”

“Support the development of an Alton Riverfront Master Plan along with the creation of a National Great Rivers National Park,” the agenda states under Alton Riverfront Development and Associated Improvements.

Although there hasn’t been any recent updates on the park plan, there have been discussions on other projects in Alton.

The Alton City Council began discussing a resolution earlier this month to authorize negotiations regarding a redevelopment agreement with the housing developer McCormack Baron Salazar (MBS) for the Lovejoy Residential Development Project.

The Lovejoy project is a partnership between AltonWorks, the AltonWorks non-profit Alton Forward and MBS for a $27 million apartment building that would include 70 apartments with both market rents and affordable rents ranging from an estimated $790 – $1,060.

According to the resolution presented at the Wednesday, Feb. 12, council meeting the project would be offered certain incentives to “induce the developer to proceed.”

“Including the use of Tax Increment Financing (“TIF”), Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) funds and American Rescue Plan (“ARPA”) funds, subject to the terms and conditions of a Redevelopment Agreement,” the minutes from the February 12 meeting state.

Previous plans for The Lovejoy included 150 apartment units and was awarded over a million dollars in funding last year.

In March of 2024, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski announced $9,409,097 in federal funding for six different projects in the area, $1,059,097 was awarded for the Lovejoy project.

“The funding will be used by Alton Forward to revitalize downtown Alton with the construction of the Lovejoy – the first new construction project downtown in over a generation. The project aims to help the city reposition itself for the 21st century and become a strong economic and residential hub in Southern Illinois,” a press release from Congresswoman Budzinski states.

“Our collective ability to attract and retain the next generation of Alton residents is essential to the revitalization of downtown Alton,” AltonWorks CEO John Simmons said in the release. “The Lovejoy, which will be the first new construction project downtown in over a generation, will be high-quality housing which will attract people of diverse cultural, and economic backgrounds to Alton. This project will benefit the entire community and is an important step in the long-term prosperity of Alton.”

The resolution regarding The Lovejoy came to Alton’s Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, Feb. 24. The meeting was standing room only with members of the public expressing their concern with the development, and representatives from MBS providing some details on the project.

Residents spoke against the development citing issues including how the resolution was presented to the council and questioning the need for such a development.

Joe Weatherly, with McCormack Baron Salazar, spoke Monday evening saying one of the reasons for their interest in The Lovejoy is having the Wedge right in the “backyard.”

The Wedge Innovation Center is a multimillion-dollar project AltonWorks has been developing in downtown Alton and is scheduled to open later this year. More information on that project can be found online at rivercountynews.com/2024/09/24/jersey-talks-of-a-new-vision-for-the-alton-riverfront-float-into-jersey-and-calhoun/.

“McCormack Baron put a multimillion-dollar investment in the Wedge when it closed last year, alongside the other capital sources,” Weatherly said. “We’re a 16-time recipient of new market tax credits. We invested some of those credits into this property making our first company investment here in some very large numbers very recently. And we want to continue our work here with The Lovejoy.”

Weatherly said 90% of the units in the building are market rate and workforce, making it eligible for tax credits. Weatherly said the tax credit program is a primary funding driver for the project.

“They represent market rents in this community. They are 60% tax credit rates for the St. Louis MSA,” he said. “So what that means is. This property is eligible for $12 million in tax credits from the State of Illinois to build what is mostly a market rate property in this community.“

After discussions, the Committee of the Whole voted to refer the item to the city’s Planning Commission.

A recording of Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting can be found online at Riverbender.com.

More information on AltonWorks and the region’s opposition to their plan for the Great Rivers National Park can be found at rivercountynews.com/2024/10/14/jersey-county-board-approves-resolution-of-opposition-to-altonworks-national-park-idea/.

As of the time of publication, according to Commissioner John Simmons, the Scott County commissioners had not yet been approached to adopt a resolution in opposition to the proposed park.