For the past six years, Springfieldians and visitors alike have been able to enjoy Fellows Lake by renting equipment from the lake's marina and making use of local walking trails. Now, the future of the marina is unclear after the lease for its operations has been terminated.
City Utilities announced Wednesday, Sept. 16 that the lease agreement to operate Fellows Lake Marina and Miller Park with Watershed Committee of the Ozarks will end at the end of this season. According to a CU news release, the decision comes as the Watershed has continued to operate at a financial loss "despite ongoing efforts by both organizations to improve sustainability."
Fellows Lake is one of CU's drinking water sources, spanning 860 acres. The marina and store offer
boat rentals, fishing supplies and drinks and snacks. Last year, The Hatch, a new accessible playground, was unveiled at Fellows Lake, becoming the first of its kind in Springfield.
"While operating the marina and facilitating recreational opportunities at Fellows Lake is no longer financially sustainable for us, we remain committed to collaborating with CU to support clean water and the health of our community moving forward," said Mike Komrey, the Watershed Committee's executive director, in the release.
The Watershed Committee will continue to operate the marina and store through the end of this season, concluding Oct. 31. The marina typically closes for the winter season until the following March. Trails throughout the Fellows Lake area will remain open and continue to be maintained by Ozark Greenways.
According to the release, CU is evaluating next steps for marina and store operations for the 2027 season and will share updates once plans are finalized. CU's Communications Manager Jamie Presley told the News-Leader there is no set timeline for when these decisions will be made prior to the typical opening of March 2027.
Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at mmieze@news-leader.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield CU announces changes to Fellows Lake Marina operations
