Central Illinois Open Water Swim

Tucked north of Bloomington, Evergreen Lake offers open water swimmers an unusually calm freshwater sanctuary protected from large powerboats. The reservoir is home to the Central Illinois Open Water Swim, an open water swimming race held in Evergreen Lake at Comlara Park in Hudson, Illinois. Held in late June, the event invites swimmers to experience this sheltered prairie reservoir right at the beginning of the summer season. Evergreen Lake was completed in 1972 north of Bloomington, created by damming Six Mile Creek to form a 925-acre reservoir that doubled the city's available water supply. The lake measures four miles in length and spans roughly four-tenths of a mile in width, creating an elongated stretch of protected freshwater. Powerboat activity across the reservoir is strictly regulated by a ten-horsepower engine limit, a rule that prevents heavy wake and ensures glassy conditions for distance swimmers.

The Central Illinois Open Water Swim across Evergreen Lake

The event is organized by the Central Illinois Masters Swim Team, Inc. (CIMST). Over the years, the competition has drawn hundreds of swimmers from all over the country to Comlara Park, alongside the club's indoor Spring Classic meet. With more than a decade of racing history, the event reached its fourteenth annual edition while continuing to offer mid-distance challenges. In 2012, the swim took place in early August at Evergreen Lake, reflecting the venue's long standing as a focal point for regional open water swimming. Entrants must be at least eighteen years old on race day and hold current registration with US Masters Swimming to compete. Swimmers choose between two core distances: a 1.2-mile course measuring 1,931 meters and a 2.4-mile endurance test spanning 3,862 meters.

The morning schedule begins with the 2.4-mile race, followed shortly after by the start of the 1.2-mile event across the open lake. The 1.2-mile distance traces a wide loop, while the 2.4-mile challenge requires completing two full circuits of the course. Three orange eight-foot tetrahedron turn buoys mark each apex of the triangle, with red guide buoys positioned along the straight stretches between them. In past editions, the three legs of the triangular loop measured roughly half a mile, four-tenths of a mile, and three-tenths of a mile, with red guide buoys helping swimmers hold their line. Course operations have featured at least nine rowboats stationed along the triangle, placing one craft at each of the three orange turn buoys and at least six boats inside the course perimeter.

In addition, at least fifteen kayakers paddle alongside the field to serve as dedicated guides and spotters throughout the swim. Water temperatures typically warm up into pleasant summer ranges. To keep competitors safe, wetsuits are only permitted at the race director's discretion when the lake remains cooler, and are completely prohibited once the water reaches warm summer thresholds. Swimmers who enter a wetsuit division are automatically moved to the non-wetsuit category of the same race if the lake warms past that threshold on race morning. At the conclusion of the swim, participants exit through an in-water lane chute and make a short run across the grass to reach the finish line.

Although cool-down swimming in Evergreen Lake is not permitted after finishing, competitors are well looked after on land. The finish area provides ice, cold towels, water, and Gatorade to help athletes cool down quickly, alongside post-race snacks included with registration.

Comlara Park: Glasener Beach and lakeside camping

Landside facilities for the Central Illinois Open Water Swim are centered at the Comlara Park Glasener Beach House. The beach house provides restrooms, showers, and changing areas for participants before and after their swim. Having these amenities available on site allows competitors to prepare comfortably before taking to the water and rinse off immediately after crossing the finish line. For those traveling from out of town or seeking a complete weekend in nature, Comlara Park offers campsites in its Main Recreation Area beside Evergreen Lake. Setting up camp right on the park grounds means swimmers can stay within easy reach of the lake and avoid morning travel on race day. It provides a relaxed outdoor setting where athletes can rest beneath the trees after their efforts in the water.

Lake Bloomington and the prairie headwaters of McLean County

Construction of Lake Bloomington was officially completed in April 1930, with the first water reaching the city reservoir in late March of that year. The creation of Lake Bloomington required extensive earthwork and the clearing of over 50,000 trees from the creek valley. The resulting man-made reservoir covers 635 acres, features 18.5 miles of shoreline, and maintains an average depth of fourteen and a half feet. Following its impoundment, approximately twenty species of fish were introduced to populate the reservoir, establishing a thriving freshwater ecosystem in the surrounding prairie. These waterways are interconnected parts of the wider Mackinaw River drainage system that carves through central Illinois. Another notable watercourse in the watershed is Panther Creek, which originates near Minonk and flows southwest for roughly forty-two kilometers before discharging into the Mackinaw River.

Panther Creek serves as a primary drainage corridor for eastern Woodford County, traversing land that was historically characterized by the Illinois Grande Prairie before its flow contributes to the lower Illinois River. Flowing into Panther Creek is the Red River, a 7.5-mile-long tributary with headwaters located southeast of Eureka. The Red River represents an unusual hydrologic anomaly where a watercourse designated as a river empties directly into a watercourse designated as a creek. Via Panther Creek and the Mackinaw River, this network links the regional streams of central Illinois to the greater Illinois River and Mississippi River watershed. Together with the calm expanses of Evergreen Lake, this vast network of creeks and reservoirs defines the freshwater character of the region, providing a peaceful and sheltered setting for open water swimming.