Friends of Lake Mattoon

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Friends of Lake Mattoon

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Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Friends of Lake Mattoon, Nonprofit Organization, PO BOX 351, Neoga, IL.

Preservation - Conservation - Recreation

Friends of Lake Mattoon is dedicated to promoting the preservation, conservation, and responsible recreation of beautiful Lake Mattoon, serving the communities of Coles, Cumberland, and Shelby counties in IL.

10/09/2026

New on our website: What’s happening at City Hall

Ever wondered what’s being decided about Lake Mattoon, but couldn’t make it to a 6:30 p.m. Tuesday council meeting? We’ve got you covered.

Our new Lake Watch section brings the lake-related news from Mattoon City Council meetings together in one spot. Each story is a short, plain-English summary, and for added convenience: click any story link and the meeting video opens at the exact moment it was discussed. No more scrubbing through a two-hour recording.

Recent stories include:

- Repairs coming to the Lake Mattoon Dam
- A grant application to stabilize the shorelines at Lake Mattoon and Lake Paradise
- Updates on watershed planning to protect the water we all share

We’ve added this tool because we want to make it easier for everyone who loves this lake to stay informed. Let us know if you think this tool is a valuable resource for lake-related updates.

Mattoon City Council meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6:30 PM. We encourage everyone to attend the meetings. Staying informed is good. Staying involved is better.

Take a look: https://friendsoflakemattoon.org/ -watch

A community nonprofit dedicated to preserving and protecting Lake Mattoon in Neoga, IL — the vital water source for Central Illinois communities.

09/30/2026

Friends of Lake Mattoon is proud to give back to a community that has always been so good to us! 💙

Twice each year, Neoga Backpack Ministries puts us on their schedule to help pack food bags, and it’s a volunteer opportunity we always look forward to.

This time, Friends of Lake Mattoon President Katie O’Dell and Events Coordinator Angie Rawlings packed 82 food bags for children at Neoga Head Start and Neoga Elementary School.

We’re grateful to play even a small part in the work Neoga Backpack Ministries does for local families. When a community takes care of one another, everyone benefits. 💙

09/21/2026

09/17/2026

Friends of Lake Mattoon Family,

Today, we received an email from the Illinois EPA regarding a complaint that had been submitted to the Governor’s Office (see below). This email was the first time our officers and board members became aware that this letter even existed.

I want to be very clear: Friends of Lake Mattoon did NOT write, approve, authorize, or have any knowledge of this letter. Someone chose to submit it using our organization’s name without our consent.

We welcome concerns about Lake Mattoon. We welcome questions, differing opinions, and conversations. Our next meeting is September 24, and anyone who has concerns is always welcome to attend.

What we cannot accept is someone signing Friends of Lake Mattoon to a communication without the knowledge or permission of the organization. I am extremely disappointed and upset that our name was used in this manner.

I have contacted Mr. Bennett with the Illinois EPA to learn more about how the letter was submitted and where it originated. If you are the person who wrote it, I genuinely hope you will reach out to me directly. I would much rather have a conversation with you, hear your concerns, and understand why you chose to use our name.

Please share this post! I would love for it to reach the right person so I can share the response from the EPA with them. After all, had they used their own contact information, they would know what it says.

Katie O’Dell
President
Friends of Lake Mattoon
217-460-0335

Join us at the Lake Mattoon and Lake Paradise Watershed Committee meeting tonight. If you have not liked their Facebook ...

09/09/2026

Join us at the Lake Mattoon and Lake Paradise Watershed Committee meeting tonight. If you have not liked their page, please do so!

09/05/2026

🎆 Sponsor Spotlight: McKay Farms & Trucking 🎆

A big thank you to McKay Farms Trucking & Storage and the entire McKay family for their generous sponsorship of our 2026 Fireworks Show! The McKays have long been a rock-solid supporter of both Friends of Lake Mattoon and Camp New Hope — always someone our community can count on.

Their generosity and heart for giving back mean so much to us and to everyone they support. Thank you, McKay family, for all you do for this community — and for helping us light up the sky over Lake Mattoon once again! 💙🎇

09/05/2026

See you tonight! Please read all information carefully.

Address

PO BOX 351
Neoga, IL
62447

Telephone

+12174600335

Website

http://FriendsoflakeMattoon.org/

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