Project Description: The 700+ acre master-planned district—known as The Oasis—combines retail, sports, entertainment, and hospitality uses to create a regional tourism anchor for southern Illinois.
The plan centers around a multi-field regional sports complex designed to attract tournaments and visitors from across the Midwest, complemented by outdoor recreation, shopping, dining, and family entertainment venues. The project positions Marion as a premier destination for sports tourism and economic growth, serving as a template for future STAR bond developments statewide.
Role & Involvement: CR Holland originated the concept and master planned the district from inception—developing the vision, site plan, and program mix. The firm structured the STAR Bond financing strategy and led the legislative, financial, and market groundwork necessary to establish the state’s first district and obtain project approvals.
Our team also identified the opportunity for a regional sports complex as an anchor attraction and guided the early development, entitlement, and infrastructure planning efforts that made the project feasible.
