Summer Activities

 The city sent out a pretty lengthy press release touting summer activities in town:

Carbondale offers endless opportunities to play and recreate- this summer season there is no end to the fun and exploration families and individuals can enjoy! 

Carbondale Park District 

The Carbondale Super Splash park officially opened this past Memorial Day weekend! Hours of operation are Tuesday- Sunday, 12- 6 PM. Admission for the Splash Park is $5, with season passes also available. Guests can enjoy water slides, lazy rivers, high dives, and special events at the Super Splash Park, with a concession stand at the ready.  

The Super Splash Park is just one of the many fun offerings from the Carbondale Park District for Carbondale residents to enjoy! With new playground equipment at Attucks Park, families can enjoy this park and its amenities more than ever. Grown-ups, don’t forget there’s plenty for you to enjoy as well- check out the Hickory Ridge Public Golf Course this summer! The Carbondale Park District also offers a multitude of summer camps, of different lengths and varieties. Check out their robust line-up here: https://cpkd.org/programs/day-camps/   

SIU/Touch of Nature 

Speaking of summer camps, SIU offers a variety of youth summer camps as diverse, professional, and varied as their collegiate offerings! Everything from outdoor, arts & science, and athletic camps, there is something for every child. https://camps.siu.edu/ 

Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Program at SIU provides the perfect opening for the youth in our region to step into the amazing Shawnee National Forest that surrounds us here in Carbondale. With camps catered to specific demographics, Touch of Nature makes sure everyone has access to the great outdoors.  https://ton.siu.edu/  

Boys & Girls Club of Southern Illinois  

The Boys & Girls Club of Southern Illinois provides youth programming all year-round but turns up the heat for an 8-week summer camp June 9th- Aug. 1! Parent Orientation will be the week of May 30th. For more information contact info@bgcsi.com 

Carbondale Public Library 

Beat the heat and cool off with amazing youth and adult programming from the Carbondale Public Library, all free of charge for Carbondale residents. https://carbondalepubliclibrary.org/ 

SOAR – Southern Outdoor Access Route 

You don’t have to be a kid going to summer camp to enjoy the amazing natural beauty that surrounds us, and JAX Mass Transit just made it easier for everyone to get out there and explore! Officially launching this Saturday, May 31st, SOAR will take explorers to several iconic stops throughout Southern Illinois including Giant City, the Makanda Boardwalk, and Poplar Camp Beach at Cedar Lake, with convenient pick up and drop off points at the SIMMS (Southern Illinois Multimodal Station), Evergreen Park, and the SIU Recreational Center. For more details on schedule and routes visit here: https://ridejax.com/soar/ 

Poplar Camp Beach at Cedar Lake  

One of the stops on the new Southern Outdoor Access Route from JAX Mass Transit, Poplar Camp Beach at Cedar Lake is officially open as of this past Memorial Day weekend and ready for beach goers! With a single day admission of $2.50 (Ten visits pass $20, or twenty visits pass $35) Poplar Camp Beach provides a spot for residents to enjoy the sand and water, just 5 minutes from Carbondale city limits. Equipped with restrooms, picnic tables, and concession stand, this spot provides a carefree summer hang for you and the family. It is a swim at your own risk facility, but lifeguards are often present. If you or your group require a lifeguard to be on duty during your visit, please call 618-549-8441 for up-to-date staffing information. 11-7 every day 

Pyles Fork Preserve 

The Pyles Fork Nature Preserve, one of several trails in Carbondale managed by Green Earth Inc., is celebrating its grand re-opening on June 7, from 10:30-12:30 PM. The ADA-Friendly trail surface is now a five-foot wide, hard-packed gravel path, with ramped elevation changes – great for those with limited mobility or pushing a stroller. 

This event will offer light refreshments, music, kids’ crafts and games, a ribbon cutting with Mayor Harvey, and GE Docents along the trail to interact with visitors and answer your questions. Guests can park at Attucks Park and then follow the signs to the celebration. 

Amtrak Station

 Demolition is proceeding on the now closed Amtrak station. I was reminded that the structure was actually built on wheels, in the event that the proposed Big Ditch, lowering the railroad tracks below ground level and creating overpasses at various crossings, ever got built.

Arcade and Entertainment Venue

 The planed arcade and entertainment venue that was going into the Cricket location at the intersection of Mill and Illinois appears to have run into "proof of concept" problems.  The installed lights have all been removed and "For Rent" signs are back in the windows.

From what I understand, the location was supposed to be a family oriented arcade and entertainment space charging a fee for either flat entry or per hour.

Planning Meeting

 The Planning Commission meets tonight at 6 p.m in the Civic Center.  Not much on the agenda save discussing updates to the Comprehensive Plan. Incidentally, the comprehensive plan can be useful should city council want to enact something in variance from it.  When the council, in the past, has wanted to take an action that deviated from the plan, residents came before the council and pointed out that said proposal was in variance from the plan, which caused the council to drop that proposal. 

Call to Order and Roll Call

2. Approval of Minutes: March 26th, 2025 and May 14th, 2025

3. Citizen Comments and Questions

4. Report of Officers, Committees, Communications

5. Public Hearings/Plan Review

PC 25-13: Public hearing to take testimony and make recommendations to City Council regarding

the City’s Comprehensive Plan update

6. Old Business

None

7. New Business

Kroger Ribbon Cutting

 After its recent remodel, Kroger will have a ribbon cutting on June 6th at 8 a.m. Samples and giveaways

Music Trivia

 continuing the music theme of the past few days. The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a music trivia event the evening of the 29th.

SI Music Fest

 The 2025 SI Music Fest started last Saturday and will run through June 8th. Here is the schedule if you want to look it over.

SI Music Scene

 The city sent this press release out highlighting upcoming music events in the city. I hope the Off the Rails concerts can pull the sorts of crowds that the street concerts of a few years ago did and that they pull people into businesses in downtown

Carbondale has long been home to a cherished local music scene, but with the development of the new Downtown Entertainment and Events Plaza, venues hosting local and touring bands, and non-profits investing time and energy into live entertainment, it is ever growing as a nationally centralized music hub.  

We recently shared that a 2 million dollar RISE grant was awarded to the City of Carbondale for Phase 2 of the Downtown Entertainment and Events Plaza- with there being such a buzz of live entertainment we wanted to take the opportunity to share the many avenues in which you can experience top notch performances here in Carbondale! 

Brown Bag Concert Series- Carbondale Main Street produces free concerts every Wednesday from 12-1 PM through the months of May- June, featuring local artists in an intimate setting at the Town Square Pavilion. Guests are encouraged to bring lunch from a local establishment, which gains them an extra ticket for a giveaway contest to local stores and restaurants. Find the lineup of musicians and more details here: https://carbondalemainstreet.com/events/brown-bag/ 

Sunset Concerts- The Sunset Concert Series is in its 46th year of bringing lively entertainment to Carbondale residents over the peak of summer! Beginning June 12th and running through July 24th, these concerts take place every Thursday evening, held either on the front steps of Shryock Auditorium or the Gazebo at Turley Park. This series is a beloved staple for Carbondale residents, regional neighbors, and SIU students who stick around for the summer. Artist lineup and event details can be found here: https://spc.rso.siu.edu/events/sunset-concerts.php 

The Varsity Center-  Woodbox Gang, Friday, June 13 

Woodbox Gang: On Friday, June 13th The Woodbox Gang will release their first album in 12 years! The Woodbox Gang have spent a quarter of a century creating vibrant and timeless music, combining the traditional sounds of American roots music with a raw and ragged sensibility. From the rickety stage floors of a church in downtown Makanda to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., The Woodbox Gang has excited audiences of all kinds over the years. Recently, the band played only a handful of shows, often digging into the vault for tunes written more than 20 years earlier, now offering highly anticipated new tunes for eager audience members in the Big Room at The Varsity this June.  Chicago Farmer will open the show with his sharp wit and amazing storytelling in his music.  

SI Music Fest- Now in its 21st season, the 2025 Southern Illinois Music Festival runs May 23 through June 8, under the artistic and administrative direction of SIU School of Music Emeritus Professor Edward Benyas. Professional singers, instrumentalists and dancers from across the United States and Europe converge in Southern Illinois to perform orchestral and chamber music, opera, jazz and educational programs, along with select SIU faculty and students. The Festival promotes our region’s reputation for cultural activity on a national scale. Symphony magazine listed it as the only professional music festival in Illinois south of I-80, AAA magazine described it as a Midwest Travel Treasure, and the Chicago Tribune cited it as one of 24 top summer activities (musical and otherwise) in an eight-state region. http://www.sifest.com/ 

Off the Rails- Last but not least in the seasonal lineup of free concert series in Carbondale, is the Off the Rails Concert Series! Located in Downtown Carbondale at the site of the new Downtown Entertainment and Events Plaza, this series offers free lively concerts twice a month, August-October, right in the heart of Downtown. A few of these concerts are paired with larger community events. Save the dates and stay tuned for artists announcements for these epic concerts: 

Saturday, August 9 & 23 

Saturday, September 6  

Saturday, September 20- Hemp, Hops & Shrooms Festival 

Friday, October 3- SIU Family Weekend 

Friday, October 24, Cdale Halloween & SIU Homecomin

Train Station

 The new downtown multi modal depot has opened for train passengers and for general gawking at the interior. I see the benches outside incorporate what is called "hostile architecture" in this case a bar in the center of each bench to stop people from stretching out on them to sleep. Still room to sit upright and sleep but no lying down on them for a nap.

Little Grassy Lake

 In case you are wanting to find out what is going on with Little Grassy Lake:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Army Corps of Engineers are hosting a public meeting on June 2 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Carterville Community Center to update concerned residents on dam safety improvements at Little Grassy Lake. If you have any questions, be sure to attend at 120 North Greenbriar Road, and in the meantime you can visit their website for more information here.

Ameren Rates

If you get your electricity directly from Ameren, expect your rates go go up about 50% starting in August. Those who get their power through Homefield can expect to pay about 1 penny less per kilowatt hour.

 2025/2026 AMEREN ELECTRIC SUPPLY FAQ 

MISO, the regional grid operator for the Ameren service territory, held its annual capacity auction to ensure there is sufficient electricity supply to provide power on peak days throughout the year. The auction resulted in a significant increase in summer capacity prices over current prices and will increase the overall power supply price that Central and Southern Illinois will pay this summer. 

How does the cost of power supply impact my utility bill? 

There are two components of the energy bill: Supply & Delivery 

• The main components to the energy bill are the delivery charge, which covers the costs of Ameren Illinois' wires and poles, our technology and operating systems, maintenance and modernization of the grid, and the people who do the work. As a delivery-only utility, Ameren Illinois earns a profit on energy delivery as set each year in rates approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission. 

• The other element of the bill is the power supply charge – or the cost of electricity itself. Ameren Illinois does not own generation or generate power; it is purchased for us to deliver by a state agency. The cost of electric supply accounts for more than half of a typical customer’s monthly electric bill. 

How much will customers pay for power supply? 

Beginning June 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2025, Ameren Illinois' supply price (also known as the Price to Compare) will increase by roughly 50 percent, going from around 8 cents per kWh to around 12 cents per kWh. This will result in an approximately 18% to 22% total bill increase for the typical residential customer for the summer period, depending on their usage. This supply price increase will only be in effect for four months (June-September). Beginning on October 1, 2025, the supply rate is expected to return closer to current levels (around 8-9 cents) for the remaining eight months. 

Because of billing cycles, customers likely won't see the new rate reflected on their bills until July 2025. 

Why are power supply prices going up? 

MISO, the regional grid operator for the Ameren service territory, held its annual capacity auction to ensure there is sufficient electricity supply to provide power on peak days throughout the year. The auction showed lower available surplus capacity for the summer months, resulting in a twenty-fold increase in summer capacity prices over current prices (from $30/MW-day to $666.50/MW-day). 

How are supply prices set? 

• In Illinois’ restructured energy markets, the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) procures electricity and a portion of the electric capacity for residential and small commercial customers who have not made the switch to an alternative supplier. 

• The electricity procurement acquires the basic generation needed to meet forecasted usage through the year. Capacity is acquired to ensure that there is enough power available on days when peak usage in an hour is at its highest (like on extremely hot days) and energy usage spikes. 

• The IPA attempts to procure as much capacity as it can in advance (known as “hedging”). The remainder is procured by MISO through its annual capacity auction. 

• The supply price includes the electricity costs (IPA) and capacity costs (IPA & MISO). Ameren Illinois enters into pricing contracts with generators at the prices secured by IPA and MISO and passes the costs to customers, dollar-for-dollar without mark-up or profit. 

Is there a concern about power availability? 

Ameren Illinois is confident that there is a sufficient amount of energy to meet the needs of our residential and business customers this summer and throughout the year. Supply constraints, however, increase the risk that insufficient generation will be available during periods of extreme temperatures and high energy usage. In the unlikely event that this would occur, Ameren Illinois has a well-developed process to reduce electric load with minimal impact on residential customers. 

Are all Ameren Illinois customers subjected to the new supply rates? 

No. Only Ameren Illinois customers who elect to receive their electric supply through Ameren Illinois’ Basic Generation Service should expect to pay the new rates. 

Nearly half of Ameren Illinois customers receive their electricity from an Alternative Retail Electric Supplier (ARES). Ameren Illinois encourages all customers, including those who are supplied by an ARES under a municipal aggregation agreement, to know their supply rate and the terms of their contract. Customers can find their rate and supplier by locating the "Electric Supply" portion of their Ameren Illinois bill. 

As a delivery-only company, Ameren Illinois supports electric supply choice as another option for customers to lower their energy costs. Customers can visit the Illinois Commerce Commission website at pluginillinois.org to learn more about electric choice. 

Multi Modal Station Opens

 Though I do not think it complete yet, the new train station will start handling passengers on Tuesday. It will be nice to see what the inside of the building looks like as I like the look of the outside.

Hippie Haven

 I have seen a link to the following blog post citing Carbondale as the top Hippie town in Illinois circulating around social media. Since the Trip Memo list is pretty light on specifics for Carbondale, I would go with the Thrillist's choice of Makanda as the top hippie town in the estate. 

Now if the Rainbow Gatherings return to the Shawnee and we start seeing the Rainbow People on the Strip again each summer, I would grant the hippie haven nod to Carbondale but since the Forest Service cracked down on the Shawnee Rainbow Gatherings years ago, I doubt we will see them again.

However, if the success of businesses like Legal Smile, Magickal Hippie, Hemp and Stuff and The Psychic Store continue, Carbondale may take the crown from Makanda

New City Council Members

The city council welcomed three new city council members this week. While things like the new entertainment complex and train station are cool, I really hope their focus is on repairing a number of the side streets and reducing the level of crime in the city.  When you compare the two, per capita, Chicago is safer than Carbondale.

New Kahala

 FYI New Kahala will be closed on May 14th, so support another local restaurant instead, or eat at home.

I still think their garlic broccoli is the best in three states.

town Square Assessment

 I found a copy of an assessment of the historical architecture of the Carbondale town square, done back in 1997 when the city was looking at getting the Jackson-Washington area and parts of West Man and south Illinois adjacent to the square placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nothing ever came of the project, as far as I know, and at least 4 of the properties, including the Tuscan Lodge and Dillinger's Feed Store, have been torn down in the past 20 years.

Certainly an intersecting look back at the history of the square. For example, the building at 215 South Illinois, now housing a gym, was built in 1930 for the Yellow Cab Taxi Service as was used for that purpose until Carbondale's Yell Cab Service shut down about a decade or so ago.

Crime Rates

 According to this, several members of Carbondale city government visited Rockford Illinois to discuss how that city has handled its domestic and community violence. Rockford has one of the highest crime rates per capita in the US with only 4% of cities having a higher one.  It also has the highest rate of auto theft in the US and 180 crimes per square mile, compared to the national average of 39.

Carbondale's crime rate, while significantly lower than Rockford's is still noticeably higher than the median for Illinois.

Entertainment Center

 One problem with the entertainment pavilion is its seasonality. Much like the splash park it is only usable  during warm, good weather. I have seen several instances over the past few years where inclement weather forced cancellation of concerts in the space. I assume the contracts are written better but some years ago, during the last Carbondale Main Street Pig Out, a rainstorm forced cancellation of the Friday night concert and, if I remember correctly, the lack of a rain clause meant the Friday night band got full payment, wiping out the profits for the event.

I just hope we have enough events taking place to justify the expense of a permanent venue.

Staples

 According to the sign on the front door, Carbondale Staples will close at 5 p.m. from now through the end of June. At least the sign says for the next 8 weeks.  Assume they are still trying to hire more staff and management. 

Poorest City in Illinois

 According to the Worker's Rights website, in 2023 Carbondale was rated the poorest city in Illinois. The site is not really clear as to what criteria it is using and it provides no evidence supporting its rating of the next 9 cities as the poorest 10 cities in Illinois.

If you look at the US Census Data, the city does have a pretty high poverty rate of about 37%. However, any college town is going to have a high poverty rate because of the number of college students that have incomes below the poverty level.

Brewfest

 Carbondale Brewfest took place this afternoon at the Town Square Pavilion and a Lion's Club Pancake breakfast at the civic center in the morning. While the civic center's parking lot was pretty packed, I was rather surprised to find parking readily available in the Old Depot parking lot., even after Brewfest started. I think the cool temperatures and drizzle may have kept people away. The S. Il . Peace Coalition held their monthly protest at the intersection of Main and Illinois and I only counted 3 protestors there. 

Yummy Donuts

 Despite the name, I doubt Yummy Donuts is associated with Yummy Buffet. Though not open yet, they do have a sign in the University Plaza strip on South Illinois, in the spot briefly occupied by Carbondale Nutrition. No indication as to when it will open though