MARION, Ill. -- A sports complex, recently announced in Marion, is expected to bring more economic opportunities to the area and will be at the site of an old coal mine.
The Prairie Rivers Network made the announcement, stating federal funding will be used to restore land, aiming the a new $30 million sports complex to be constructed on the site of an abandoned coal mine in Marion.
MARION, Ill. -- A new $30 million multi-use sports complex will be coming to Marion after ap…
Information released by Prairie Rivers Network stated Oasis Sports Park developer Rodney Cabaness says, “The mine reclamation program is going to help completely revitalize this area around the strip mines."
Cabaness also talked about the overall vision, saying, “We were trying to figure out a way to create a destination to get more people to come to southern Illinois and help grow our economy here."
During a meeting with state and federal agencies, Cabaness and his partners learned about the through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The Prairie Rivers Network breaks down the Oasis Sports Complex as a 150,000-square-foot dome accommodating various sports, including baseball, softball, football, basketball, soccer, tennis, and pickleball. Additionally, the 15,000-square-feet of the facility will provide training for about 500 youth in baseball and softball. The complex aims to attract families from the region, providing a significant boost to local businesses, such as retail stores, restaurants, and hotels.
Cabaness is quoted as stating, "All the pieces came together," after the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) was passed in 2021 which allocated substantial resources toward reclamation across the nation’s coal mining communities, including an estimated $1.2 billion toward mine clean-up in Illinois over 15 years.
The  shared thoughts from a number of state officials on the matter.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Natalie Phelps Finnie, a lifelong resident of southern Illinois, underscored the project's significance: “This funding is a lifeline and a path to economic stability.� Finnie noted that the BIL funding provided by the Biden Administration will help protect public health, safety, and the environment, enabling local communities to repurpose restored land.
She also underscored the many entities, public and private that made the Oasis project possible. “The cooperation and commitment from IDNR, the City of Marion, Williamson County, other state agencies, and private investors is a perfect way to showcase what these BIL funds can accomplish. Not only is the BIL funding creating pathways for new economic and worker investments in Illinois communities, it’s creating hope in Illinois communities.�
Sharon Buccino, Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement in the U.S. Department of Interior, highlighted the broader mission: “Our mission at OSMRE, at its core, is about making people safer, cleaning up the environment, and encouraging economic development in coal communities. What we will be able to accomplish due to the historic investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is an unprecedented, once-in-a-generation opportunity.�
John “Austin� Willis, Chief of the Alton Field Division, underscored the significance of the BIL: “I think what we see here is another great example of what the BIL was intended to accomplish � to help rebuild and invest in communities. The investment we see in Marion demonstrates what successful reclamation can ultimately lead to, helping to rebuild and revitalize communities that once supported the nation through energy and resource production. For this community, reclamation provides hope for environmental improvements, economic development, and community growth. Reclamation of abandoned mine lands is not only vital to the fulfillment of BIL, but also supports the fulfillment of the SMCRA, returning (often increasing) value to the environment and ultimately the community.�
Amanda Pankau, director of energy and community resiliency at Prairie Rivers Network, said: “The new BIL funding available for cleaning up old, unreclaimed coal mines is unprecedented. Publicly and privately owned lands are eligible for clean up, and I am excited to be working with landowners and communities to identify where these AML sites are in their communities and what potential they might have if reclaimed.�
For more information, you may reach the Illinois Department of Natural Resources at 217-782-6791 or the Prairie Rivers Network at 217-344-2371.
