The city of Alton is seeking proposals for the development of the former Robert P. Wadlow Golf Course: the 30-acre area between the Holiday Inn Express and the Amtrak Station. Currently this site, which the city is calling "Wadlow Town Center," is mostly a mowed grass field. However, it also hosts a creek corridor with native trees, pollinator gardens, and a bike trail. The construction of the Holiday Inn Express caused damage to the trail and stream bank, which the Sierra Club had to procure grants to fix.

            We oppose developing this site for commercial use. We believe that our city does not need a new "town center". Alton already has established business districts with plenty of vacant store fronts and empty lots. Economic development and investment should focus on improving and supporting our existing neighborhoods, not building new neighborhoods from scratch.

            We request that the entire "Wadlow Town Center" area be used as green space for native habitat restoration and recreation. While preserving the existing natural areas, the city could add unique amenities that would improve life for residents and draw visitors to Alton, such as a nature playscape, sculpture park, or community garden.

Alton needs a new nature park, not a new commercial development!