Carver Yokum Homestead Park

This nine-acre property is located on the east side of Camp Butler Cemetery in Springfield, IL and is owned by SANGAMON COUNTY. The Carver Yocum Homestead Site was named through a contest held for area schoolchildren. The Carver and Yocum families were the most recent property owners (late 20th century). The property flooded frequently and was acquired by Sangamon County through a buyout from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Friends of the Sangamon Valley (FOSV) has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the county, including management of a conservation easement. 

Community types consist of silver maple floodplain forest, sedge meadow, and wet mesic prairie. It boasts large persimmon trees and white walnut. Current threats include invasive species such as teasel and frequent flooding.

What’s an Easement? A conservation easement is granted by the property owner to another party for purposes of preserving the land for conservation. The property owner retains ownership, but gives up most development rights. The party that holds the easement is responsible for annual inspections and reporting. In this case, Sangamon County owns the property and FOSV hold’s the easement. The easement was finalized in 2007.

The site is open to the public. Take Interstate 74 to the Camp Butler Road sign. Follow the signs to Camp Butler, turning left towards Camp Butler but then immediately right onto Old River Road. Continue a short distance to the parking lot located on the right side of the road.