Neighborhoods Plan

• City staff worked with Ozarks Technical Community College and Drury University to develop master plans for their respective campuses. City Council adopted both plans.
• Neighborhood Assessments are being held as part of a citywide neighborhood planning process.
• Enactment of the Boarded Buildings Ordinance put restrictions on boarded buildings to ensure compliance with health and safety codes.
• The City has stepped up its program of removing severely deteriorated structures through spot clearance as part of Dangerous/Boarded Buildings strategy.
• A process was established to acquire dangerous/boarded buildings for infill development or rehabilitation.
• Shared parking is promoted to protect neighborhoods from encroachment, such as Springfield Public Schools and Drury University or OTC and area churches.
• Buffers and green space are encouraged between institutions and neighborhoods.
• New traffic-calming techniques such as the round-a-bout at OTC are encouraged.
• The City tries to purchase the entire lot for street-widening projects instead of leaving narrow front yards (i.e. Grand Street and Walnut Lawn widening projects).
• Sanitary sewer service is being expanded to unsewered areas with a goal of sewering the entire city over the next seven years.
• Street and sidewalk maintenance are being provided through an annual resurfacing/replacement program.
• The City is working with the Community Partnership of the Ozarks and AmeriCorps on neighborhood clean-ups in Center City.
• Funding is available for the Police Area Representative Program and for Neighborhood Watch programs.
• Funding is available for various after-school programs to deter children from getting involved in criminal activity.
• The CrimeSeen feature on the City’s Web site provides neighborhoods with information of criminal activity.
• A Community Development Corporation (Urban Neighborhoods Alliance – UNA) was established to assist with housing and neighborhood revitalization programs.

Center City Plan

• The approval of the hotel-motel tax to fund Jordan Valley Park Phase 1 and the Zoo also included funding for the Discovery Center and Landers and Gillioz theaters.
• The Springfield Exposition Center, multi-level Jordan Valley Car Park and Hammons Field baseball stadium are under construction.
• The Urban Districts Alliance was reorganized.
• The Springfield Finance and Development Corporation was formed.
• The Downtown Community Improvement District was formed.
• Parking improvements have been implemented.
• Streetscape improvements (Downtown, Commercial Street, Walnut Street have been designed and constructed.
• Three separate downtown National Register Historic Districts have been formed.
• The Brownfields Program was implemented in the Center City area.
• Approximately 50 loft apartments have been created in Center City.
• A multipurpose arena is being designed.

Historic Preservation Plan

• The Historic and Architectural Survey for the Grant Beach Neighborhood identified potential National Register properties for nomination.
• The City’s Historic Resources Survey Plan identifies areas for future specific Historic and Architectural Surveys.
• Historic City Hall Building underwent renovation.
• The Christian Science Church building is being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.
• Five National Register Historic Districts were approved in the downtown area.

Community Physical Image Plan

• The Missouri 13 Gateway project was designed.
• An amended sign ordinance addresses the number and size of billboards.

Transportation Plan

• The Metropolitan Planning Organization was expanded to include Strafford, Republic, northern Christian County, Nixa, and Ozark.
• The MPO Organizational Structure and Staffing Study was implemented.
• The first Executive Director for the MPO was hired.
• South Dry Sac Greenway Concept Plan was initiated.
• Voters approved a 1/8-cent sales tax for transportation to complete joint City/MoDOT projects such as the Sunshine/U.S. 65 Interchange.
• The East U.S. 60 Corridor Study was completed.
• The Bicycle section of the Transportation Plan was implemented through signage and the development of a bike route map.
• A bicycle system using greenways and designated bike lanes is under development.
• James River Freeway to I-44 was completed.
• A number of bus turnouts have been created on major arterial streets.
• The Access Management Standards were developed.

Parks, Open Space, and Greenways Plan

• Voters overwhelmingly approved a hotel-motel tax increase to implement Phase 1 of Jordan Valley Park - the Park, the Ice Park and Boonville Avenue Streetscape – along with funding for Dickerson Park Zoo and several Center City attractions.
• Land was acquired for development of Jordan Valley Park- Phase One.
• Jordan Valley Ice Park opened on Sept. 22, 2001.
• Land was acquired to complete the Galloway Creek Greenway from Sequiota Park to Pershing School.
• The School-Park concept was implemented with McBride, McGregor, and Truman Schools.
• Land was acquired along South Creek, National to Campbell, adjacent to South Creek/Wilsons Creek Greenway.
• Land was acquired to develop Close Park adjacent to Nathanael Greene Park.
• The South Creek/Wilsons Creek Greenway segment from Nathanael Greene Park to Golden Avenue was completed.
• Railroad right-of-way was acquired to connect the Frisco Highline Trail from Willard to Springfield.
• A segment of Ward Branch Greenway was completed.
• A segment of Jordan Creek Greenway (Hammons Parkway to Downtown) was completed.
• The Five-Year Strategic Action Plan was prepared to implement the Parks, Open Space, and Greenways Plan.
• City and County voters passed a 1/4-cent sales tax for Implementation of Five-Year Action Steps for Parks, Open Space, & Greenways.
• Approximately 150 acres were acquired at the west Springfield Wilson-Rutledge property for a metropolitan park.
• Construction and rehabilitation of the Doling Community Center are underway.
• The Chesterfield Family Center expansion is underway with construction of an aquatic center.

Growth Management and Land Use Plan

• The City has continued and expanded its voluntary annexation policy and two of three city-initiated annexation referendums have been approved..
• The Urban Service Area Policy was revised and amended in conjunction with Greene County.
• Several recommendations of the Water Resources Task Force have been implemented.
• The Land Use Plan guides development issues, zoning cases, and subdivision plats.
• Urban Service Areas/Future Growth Areas are being coordinated with the surrounding communities of Battlefield, Republic, Willard, Strafford, Nixa, and Ozark.
• Amended subdivision regulations require sidewalks on at least one side of every street.

Community Facilities Plan

• The shared-use principle has been applied in a number of ways, such as the School-Park program and combined Police and Fire facilities.
• A new Library Center has been built, another is under construction, and branch libraries have been renovated.
• Springfield Public School facilities – such as Central High School, Jarrett Middle School, and Kennedy Stadium – have been renovated.
• Four new fire stations have been built – three of which were relocated to address future growth and one new site was added.
• The City’s first full-service South Springfield Police Station was built.
• A new jail was built using the Law Enforcement Sales Tax.
• The City and County have combined Emergency Management efforts.
• The Level Property Tax Project was implemented, including preservation and restoration of municipal facilities.
• The 800-megahurtz trunked radio system putting emergency responders on one network was dedicated in July 2002.
• A significant number of stormwater projects have been completed.

Economic Development Plan

• The Partnership Industrial Center West site was selected and developed.
• The Amended Enterprise Zone added 240 acres to the existing zone.
• Property annexed near Evans Road and U.S. 65 ensures that areas for major retail development are within city limits.
• City staff is working with SMS and OTC to facilitate Center City growth and linkages.
• City staff is working with St. John’s and Cox hospitals to facilitate expansion.
• National Fish and Wildlife Living Museum and Aquarium opened.
• The City is participating the Chamber of Commerce’s Partnership for Prosperity program.
• The City is a partner in the Chamber’s regional outreach efforts through the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership.

For More Information, contact:

the City of Springfield Department of Planning and Development, 864-1031 or the Department of Public Information, 864-1010.