COLLINSVILLE – Often referred to as the “Best Kept Secret in Collinsville, Illinois”, the 42-acre Willoughby Heritage Farm & Conservation Reserve is enjoyed by children and adults alike with its extensive trail system, preserved 1920s farmhouse, facility rentals, and farm animals.
With the park’s popularity growing, the City of Collinsville, which has owned and operated the property since 2018, turned to Lawrence Group’s experienced Landscape Architecture studio to develop a master plan for improvements to the park and its facilities for the next 25+ years.
On April 28, 2026, Collinsville city officials voted to approve the master plan developed by Lawrence Group. Municipalities often use master plan documents as a tool to apply for grants, justify capital budgets, and raise funds for the improvements.
Willoughby Farm is a unique property located in the center of Collinsville, about 22 miles northeast of St. Louis, MO, that offers educational programs throughout the year ranging from archery and farm animal care to the recently added sustainability and composting series. Its multiple barns, pavilions and beautiful scenery provide the ideal setting for weddings, parties, reunions and the occasional hoedown. Smaller barns located throughout the farmyard are home to a variety of farm animals such as donkeys, horses, pigs, rabbits and chickens, plus a playground and open space for play. Visitors can also tour the original farmhouse on the property to get an idea of life back in the 1940s when the Willoughby family farmed the property.
“Willoughby has a lot to offer and our goal with this plan is to guide the city towards a solution that solves some of their ongoing challenges,” said Lawrence Group Landscape Architect Jordan Wilkinson, PLA, ASLA. “The final design improves access to the park’s amenities while also setting the farm up for the future with the addition of a modern and climate-controlled multipurpose building. We aimed to keep Willoughby Farm’s core principles at the forefront of this process – to showcase 1940’s farm life, natural resource conservation, sustainability, and education.”
The primary objectives of Lawrence Group’s master plan include:
- Protecting the park’s resources
Managing visitor use
Planning for future park development
Developing a maintenance and capital improvement program for infrastructure upkeep on existing and future amenities
Evaluating current and future staffing for optimal farm operation
Developing current and future programming for peak revenue generation
Analyzing user comfort and convenience for accessing the park
In developing the Willoughby Farm Master Plan, it was important to Lawrence Group that the community’s voices and needs were heard. Input was collected through community engagement, stakeholder meetings, an online survey, internal and external research, data collection and analysis. Lawrence Group heard from community members, park staff and volunteers during the 12-week-long engagement process.
“An important aspect of the master plan process involved public outreach to develop the long-term vision for the park that is both feasible for the public and for the environment,” said Wilkinson. “We welcomed everyone’s input and were excited for the opportunity to protect and improve this ‘crown jewel’ of the city.”
Lawrence Group is recommending a five-phase improvement approach in the master plan with an estimated total cost of $6.5 million:
Phase 1 – Farmyard accessibility and improvements
Widen and add a sidewalk to Willoughby Lane
Create a farm gateway
Build covered displays for the preserved farm equipment
Improve site accessibility
Update the covered picnic area and children’s play zone
Modernize the playground equipment
Phase 2 – Accessibility and infrastructure
Expand and reconfigure the existing parking lot
Create paved trailheads
Build an additional parking lot and stormwater management display
Expand the existing patio space
Construct a new plaza
Phase 3 – Trail and landscape improvements
Expand park signage and trailhead maps
Add a trail gateway with selfie spot
Expand the existing trails
Build a covered bridge
Create a Kugelbahn marble run
Plant an orchard and prairie restoration areas
Craft a guided ropes course
Phase 4 – Farmyard improvements
Relocate the Kid’s Coral
Build a new outdoor classroom
Establish a Children’s Educational Zone
Phase 5 – Building improvements
Add HVAC and a kitchenette to the Bank Barn
Renovate portions of the existing farmhouse
Build a 7,800-square-foot multipurpose building
