04 WEEKLY 2026
MAY
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B A L D W I N
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VOL 4 NO. 16 FREE DIGITAL VERSION
N E W S P A P E R
ONE YEAR LATER:
WHERE THE SPRING CREEK LAKE PROJECT STANDS grant applications at the federal and private levels. A more realistic path forward While early estimates once suggested repairs could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, more recent local assessments have dramatically changed that outlook. “We finally got some bids from local contractors — about $35,000,” McMillen said. “That’s a huge difference. It’s doable.” The issue, she emphasized, is limited to the spillway itself — not the dam or the lake as a whole. “The dam is in perfect condition,” she said. “It’s only the spillway.” That distinction has helped shift community perception, making the project feel more attainable than originally believed.
A year after a surge of community support brought renewed attention to Baldwin City’s Spring Creek Lake, those working to preserve it say the effort is still alive — but facing new challenges. What began as a grassroots movement in 2025, sparked by a damaged spillway and fears the lake could be sold, quickly grew into a formal City Lake Committee backed by strong public interest. Hundreds attended meetings, more than 1,000 signatures were collected, and city officials responded by forming a committee to explore solutions. Today, that same group continues to meet — but progress has slowed. “We’ve been working on it for a couple of years now,” said Becky McMillen, one of the leading voices behind the effort. “We meet about once a month before city council meetings, just trying to figure everything out.”
Setbacks and shifting expectations One of the biggest recent setbacks came in the form of a denied grant application. The committee had applied for funding through the Douglas County Cultural Heritage Grant program, hoping to secure financial support for spillway repairs. “We were just so sure,” McMillen said. “We had such high hopes.” Instead, the request was denied. According to McMillen, concerns raised during the review process included questions about why repairs had not been addressed sooner, uncertainty about long-term city plans for the lake, and whether grant funding would ultimately support a city-owned asset without broader commitment. Despite the disappointment, the group is continuing to pursue other funding options, including additional
Grassroots work continues Even without major funding secured, volunteers have continued making improvements to the property. Committee members and local supporters have worked to clear overgrown trails, remove debris, and restore access to areas that had been largely unusable. “We’ve cut trees, opened up the paths again, and even built a bridge,” McMillen said. “We’ve just been paying for things ourselves.” In the process, volunteers uncovered a piece of Baldwin City history — a set of stone steps believed to date back to the 1930s Works Progress Administration era. Once buried under mud and vegetation, the steps have become a renewed point of interest for residents. “When we uncovered them, people just loved it,” she said. “There’s a lot of history out there.” Community support — and questions As work has continued, community members have taken notice. Some have even begun contributing money informally to support the effort. That prompted organizers to establish a dedicated account at a local bank to safely hold donations. Continued on page 3